--'RN' denotes Royal Navy usage. Similarly, RCN = Royal Canadian Navy,
RAN = Royal Australian Navy, RM = Royal Marines, RNZN = Royal New Zealand
Navy, UK = general usage in militaries of the former British Empire

--Terms in ALL-CAPS have a separate listing.

--Special note: Since days of yore the military in general, and
sailors in particular, have often had a rather pithy (dare I say tasteless'?)
manner of speech. That may be changing somewhat in these politically
correct days, but to Bowdlerize the sailors language represented
here would be to deny its rich history. The traditions and origins remain.
While I have attempted to present things with a bit of humor, if you are
easily offended this FAQ may not be for you. You have been warned.

1MC - The basic one-way communications system on a vessel. Reaches all
spaces on a ship. Used for general announcements, and to transmit general
alarm system signals. Control stations are located on the bridge,
quarterdeck, and central station. Other transmitters may be installed at
additional points. There are other MC and JV circuits used for
communications within the ship. They are typically system-specific, i.e.
weapons systems, navigation communication, engineering

systems, firefighting, etc.

130-rpm fish - A form of sea life (type unknown) which makes a sound
very similar to a propeller turning at 130 rpm.

90-Day Wonder  Derisive term for a graduate of OCS. The derision
results from the lack of experience of the typical graduate. Commonly seen
as "90-Day Blunder."

99  (USN aviation) Precedes a radio call which applies to a group
of aircraft, e.g. "99 Guntrains" would address all aircraft with
a Guntrain callsign.

Aback  Backing a sail is turning it so that the wind hits the
front face; the effect is to slow a ship or boat. A sail which is being
backed is said to be aback. A sailing ship which accidentally
goes aback when tacking loses its momentum and is said to be in
irons.. A person is said to be all aback when he is
confused or surprised.

Abaft  Aft of a given point on a ship; e.g. the bridge is abaft
the bow.

Accelerated Stall  (Aviation) A stall which occurs during
accelerated flight, i.e. while the aircraft is pulling Gs. Generally
a much more violent event than an unaccelerated stall.

Acey-Deucey  Backgammon, a board game traditionally played in
off-duty hours.

Acey-Deucey Club  A club for E-5 and E-5 enlisteds (Second- and
First-Class Petty Officers).

ACM - Air Combat Maneuvering. Dogfighting practice.

Acockbill  Out of alignment or awry. In original usage, if a
sailing ships yards were not all aligned, she was said to be "all
acockbill." See also SQUARED AWAY.

Active Homing  A radar homing (guidance) method where the missile
provides its own radar transmissions and homes in on the radar energy
reflected off the target.

Adrift  (1) Not secured; scattered about; not properly stowed, or
out of place. (2) (RCN) Missing in action. "Oh no, I'm adrift for the
meeting and the Bossman'll be there!"

Advance and Transfer  Two separate terms involving a ships
turn. Advance is the forward progress made between the time that the
rudder is put over and the time the ship is steady on her new course.
Transfer is the horizontal displacement of the ship during the same period
of time. Advance is maximized in a 90-degree turn; transfer is maximized
in a 180-degree turn.

AEF/A  (USN submarine) Auxiliary Electrician Forward/Aft.

A.F.R.T.S. - Spoken as "a-farts", Armed Forces Radio and
Television System is a US system providing television and radio
entertainment to forces overseas. Recently, the preferred interpretation
has become "American Forces Radio and Television Services."

AFFF - Aqueous Film Forming Foam. A fire-fighting agent which is mixed
with water and sprayed on flammable liquids fires. Pronounced "A
triple-F". Aka 'Light Water' for the foam's ability to float on oil
or gasoline. Replaced protein foam. Unlike blood-based protein foam, AFFF
is self-healing, in that holes in the foam blanket will close by
themselves, preventing reflash.

Afterburner - A system in the engine(s) of many tactical aircraft (and a
very few non-tactical a/c such as the SR-71 and U-2) which dramatically
increases thrust at the cost of doubling (or more) the fuel consumption.
Analogous term in UK-based countries is reheat.

AGL  (Aviation) Above Ground Level. A method of defining an
altitude with respect to local ground elevations. The altitude that really
matters for safety of flight. See also MSL.

Air Boss  The watchstander responsible for the safe operation of
the carriers flight deck. His minions direct the placement of
aircraft on the deck, monitor the operation of catapults and arresting
gear, and direct firefighting efforts if a crash occurs.

Airdale, airedale - Naval aviator, aka 'BROWNSHOE'. Can also refer to
any member of the aviation community, officer or enlisted. From envy,
often modified by non-aviation types with the adjective "fucking".

Air Start  Blowjob.

Air Wing  The officers and men assigned to the aircraft aboard a
ship, whether a carrier (usually referred to as a "carrier airwing")
or a smaller vessel (generally referred to as an "air det"
(detachment)); the airwing has a separate administrative and operational
chain of command.

Anchor Pool  The betting pool on the hour and minute the ship will
drop anchor or tie up.

Andrew (the) - (UK) Nickname for the Royal Navy. Refers to pressgang
leader Andrew Miller who, it was said, owned the Royal Navy.

Angled Deck - The landing area of a modern carrier, which is offset 10
degrees to port from the ship's centerline to provide for safe BOLTERs.
Aka 'angle deck', 'the angle.'

Angle of Attack  The angle measured between the relative wind and
the chord line of an airfoil. Essentially, the angle between the air
movement (*not* the horizon!) and the aircrafts wing. Has a
tremendous import in the handling and behavior of the aircraft.
Abbreviated AOA. Aka Alpha, from the engineering notation for
AOA. Primarily an aviation term, although it is applicable to other fluid
environments such as a ships propeller in water.

Angles and Dangles  Operating a submarine at steep angles of
ascent and descent, and to perform rapid turns (a submarine in a tight
turn will bank in the same fashion as an aircraft).

Anti-Smash Light - The rotating or flashing anti-collision beacon on an
aircraft.

AOW - Auxiliaryman Of (the) Watch. Also called 'The Aux'.

ARAB - (UK) Arrogant Regular Army Bastard.

Arresting Gear - Mechanism used to rapidly bring an aircraft to a halt
aboard ship or ashore. In field use (ashore), A-gear may be a device as
simple as lengths of chain connected to a CROSS-DECK PENDANT (q.v.),
though this type of installation is becoming less common. The chain device
is usually referred to as 'overrun gear', as it acts to stop an aircraft
which is about to run off of the end of the prepared runway surface. Other
types of arresting gear, ashore and afloat, involve complicated braking
mechanisms.

Arse Bandit  (UK) Homosexual.

Artificer - (RN) Engineering technician.

ASAP  As Soon As Possible. Usually spoken as a word, "A-sap,"
the first a given the long sound.

Athwartships  Moving or placed from side to side aboard ship, or
straddling a particular position.

AUX - Pronounced ox. (1) Verbal shorthand for 'auxiliary',
as when referring to a machinery space, 'Aux One'. (2) Alternate form of
AOW.

Aweigh  When a ship raises anchor, the anchor is said to be aweigh
as soon as it leaves the bottom. From the process of weighing anchor.

AWOL Bag  A small canvas or vinyl bag used to carry clothing or
personal items while on weekend liberty.

Baby Shit  Yellowish, evil-smelling grease.

Back Afty - (RN) Anything to do with the nuclear power plant or the
people who operate it. See NUKE.

Back in Battery - Originally an artillery term for a gun which has
completed its recoil/postfiring cycle and is ready to fire again. Common
usage now is 'ready to go,' or recovered. Also seen as 'Back to Battery.'
"I set my hair on fire last night, but five hours' rack time and I'm
back in battery."

Backing  (1) Operating astern propulsion machinery. (2) A change
of wind direction in the counter-clockwise direction (as one looks into
the wind).

Ball (the) - The glowing image projected by the FRESNEL LENS. Gives
glideslope reference. Short for meatball, the term for the red
ball of light seen in the old mirror landing system which predated the
fresnel lens system.

Ballbuster  (1) Something difficult. (2) A sexually teasing woman.

Balls (or Four Balls)  Midnight, which in the militarys
24-hour timekeeping system may be written as "0000," although
writing midnight time as "2400" is perhaps more common.

Balls Out  Refers to an early design of engine governor, in which
a pair of masses (balls) spun at an increasing rate as engine speed
increased. Centrifugal acceleration threw the masses outward, so "balls
out" refers to maximum possible engine speed.

Balls to the wall  Maximum speed, or maximum effort.

BAM  Originally this term meant Bad-Ass Marine. It has since come
to mean Broad-Ass Marine, i.e. a woman Marine. See also BOSNIA.

Banca Boat  Term for any small native craft, especially in the
Western Pacific or Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf. Banca is
literally translated from the Tagalog as boat.

Bandit  (1) Air contact positively identified as hostile. (2)
(RCN) A sailor often in trouble.

Bang Seat - (UK) Ejection seat.

Banjo, butty  (1) (RN) A sandwich. Also 'sarnie'. (2) (USN) Banjo
is also a nickname for the F-2 Banshee fighter.

Banyan - (RCN/UK) A barbecue or party on the flight deck, usually with
steaks and beer. The term is derived from banian, a garment
worn by an East Indian sect which neither kills nor eats meat (Banyan
is actually a species of tree). In the 18th century, the
British navy denied its sailors meat on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays;
these days were known as banian (or Banyan) days. The term has
now come to mean just the opposite. The USN form is STEEL BEACH (without
the beer).

Bar Hog  A woman who hangs out in bars.

Barrack Stanchion  (RNZN) A sailor who rarely goes to sea.

Barricade (the) - (1) A device vaguely similar to (but much larger than)
a tennis net which can be rigged and used to stop an aircraft which is
unable to TRAP. Aka 'barrier'. (2) In the days of the straight-deck
carriers, the barricade was a series of devices rigged during normal
landing operations to prevent an aircraft which failed to trap from
smashing into THE PACK, graduating from a low barrier which just engaged
the landing gear, all the way to a device more similar to the contemporary
one.

Batten Down  Make fast, secure, or shut. Originally, deck hatches
did not have hinged, attached covers. Hatch covers were separate pieces
which were laid over the hatch opening, then made fast with battens
(pieces of timber).

BB Stacker - Generically, any ORDIE.

Beach  Ashore, or to be put ashore. "He screwed the pooch
bigtime and they beached him."

Beagle - (RN/RAN) Wardroom steward.

(On her) Beam Ends  Strictly speaking, when a ship has gone
through 90 degrees of roll, where her decks are vertical. Of course, in
such case a ship would probably capsize (roll completely over). Can be
used to refer to extreme rolls, even if less than 90 degrees.

Belay  (1) Stop. (2) Make fast. Derived from the practice of tying
a line off (making it fast) using a belaying pin. (3) Disregard, as in "belay
my last."

Benny - A treat or reward, derived from 'benefit.'

Benny Sugg  (USN) Beneficial Suggestion program, a program where
personnel were rewarded for making suggestions to improve some aspect of
military life, usually living conditions.

BENO Box  Patrol station in the Eastern Mediterranean in the 80s.
Occupied by various Carrier Battlegroups and Amphibious Groups. The BENO
Box was notorious for long on-station assignments, during which time there
would "Be No Liberty, Be No Women, Be No Nothing!"

Between the Devil and The Deep Blue (Sea)  In the old sailing
ships, the devil was a large seam which joined the vertical
hull (side) timbers with the deck planking. This seam was outboard of the
gunwales, and was a dangerous place to work. There are also references to
a devil seam where the hull comes together back aft at the
stern postanother difficult and dangerous place to work.

Bilge - (1) The area below the deck gratings in the lowest spaces of the
ship, where things, especially liquids, tend to collect. (2) To fail or do
poorly. "Poor Smitty bilged the quiz." (3) To name a classmate
or shipmate involved in wrongdoing, or to identify a mistake made by
someone else.

Bilge Diving  Working in the bilges of a ship, or cleaning same.

Bilge rat  Someone who works in the engineering spaces.

Bingo - (1) Fuel level or status requiring either an immediate return to
base or vector to a tanker, 'bingo fuel'. As a verb, the act of returning
to base or a tanker because of low fuel state.

Binnacle  A pedestal which supports a compass. Typically found
next to or in front of the ships wheel.

Binnacle List  Sick list; a listing of the names of the men
currently in sick bay and unable to perform their duties due to sickness
or injury. This list was originally to be found attached to the binnacle.

Biologics  The sounds generated by sea life, when picked up on
sonar.

Bird farm - Aircraft carrier.

Birds - (1) Term for the rank markings of a USN Captain or USMC Colonel
(silver eagle, O-6 paygrade). (2) (RCN) Punishment consisting of
confinement to the ship, base, etc., or sailors under punishment (derived
from the slang term jailbird.) (3) Generic, airplane. (4)
Missiles, especially in the surface community. "Birds Free"
means permission has been granted to fire missiles.

Bitchbox  (USN) Intercom or amplified circuit used to communicate
between spaces of the ship.

Bitter End  Properly, the free or loose end of a line. Originally,
the bitter end of a mooring line was taken to the bitts to secure it.

Bittersweet - A radio call signifying that friendly aircraft are in
danger from a surface AAW missile launch, or that the presence of friendly
aircraft is preventing a missile shot.

Bitts  A mooring fixture made up of two BOLLARDS.

Black and Bitter  Coffee, no sugar or cream added.

Black and Sweet  Coffee with sugar.

Black Cat - During World War Two, a PBY Catalina which was painted black
and used for night reconnaissance patrol.

Black Cat Merchant - (RN) Someone who is always exaggerating.

Black-Hand Gang - See SNIPE. Older (ca. WW II), less politically-correct
form is 'Black Gang. Originally, it referred to the appearance of
men who had been handling or working around coal, but the term has come to
refer to the engine room crew. During WWII, members of the Black Gang were
issued black "Dixie Cups" instead of white ones, and were
therefore sometimes called "Black Hats."

Black-shoe - Member of the surface or submarine community. Until
recently, the only approved footwear for these communities was black in
color. More recently, brown footwear is optional, but seldom seen due to
tradition.

Blank flange - (1) A plate bolted onto an open pipe to prevent flooding
or leaks while work is performed on a piping system. (2) Pancakes. (3)
Someone who acts like an idiot (aka 'blank file').

Bleed Air  In gas turbine engines, compressed air that is removed
(bled) from the compressor section at various points. Can be
used for various applications, such as maintaining clean airflow in the
engine, anti-icing, air conditioning, or to provide start air to another
engine.

Blivet - (1) Traditionally, "Ten pounds of shit in a five-pound
sack." (2) A rubber fuel bladder. (3) A modified droptank (may be
purpose-built or a field modification) used to haul small cargo,
especially in tactical aircraft, or used to haul dangerous or toxic cargo
outside of the aircraft.

Blowdown - A generic engineering term which can be used as noun or verb.
A cleaning and/or venting process. Some specific applications: (1) A
process for cleaning water-sides of a boiler. A top blow removes scum and
floating contaminants, a bottom blow removes sludge. (2) To backflush and
clean a SEACHEST. (3) The process of removing excess pressure from a
system, or venting it completely.

Blue Force - Friendly forces in a wargame exercise.

Blue on Blue - A friendly-fire kill. UK term is 'own-goal.'

Bluenose  See ORDER OF THE BLUENOSE.

Blue-Shirt  (1) (aviation) Aviation Boatswain's Mate. During
flight deck ops, wears a jersey color-coded blue. Responsible for
positioning and chaining down aircraft. Aka 'Chock and Chain boys.' A type
of KNUCKLEDRAGGER. Often a non-rated person. (2) Anyone E-6 or below
wearing the dungaree uniform, similar to the traditional term "bluejacket."

Blue Water - Literally, 'deep water,' or 'deep draft,' but more
traditionally, 'away from land.' A 'blue water navy' is capable of
prosecuting battle away from shore-based support in vessels of sufficient
size and endurance to do so safely.

Blue Water Ops - Flight operations carried out beyond range of a bingo
or divert field. At this point it is literally sink or swim for the
aircrew--if a successful trap cannot be made, the aircrew will have to
eject or bail out.

Boarding Rate - The percentage of carrier approaches that result in
successful arrestments. May be counted for a pilot, a squadron, or an
airwing.

Bollard  A squat cylindrical fixture attached to a pier or deck.
Used to secure lines, such as mooring lines.

Bolter - The go-around that occurs when the carrier plane's tailhook
misses the wires. Only possible on modern carriers with an ANGLED DECK
(q.v.). Prior to the advent of the angled deck, missed wires often
resulted in a BARRICADE engagement or a crash into the PACK.

Bomb (The) - (submarine only) The oxygen generator system.

Bomber - See BOOMER.

Bonedome - Flight helmet. Aka 'hardhat', 'brain bucket'.

Boom  (1) (aviation) Sonic boom. (2) (USAF) The winged pipe
extending aft and below a tanker aircraft. The wings are used to fly the
boom into position to connect with the receiving aircraft, then the boom
extends to make contact. Offers much higher rates of transfer than that
found in the probe and drogue systems common to the USN and all other
countries that employ inflight refueling.

Boomer - (1) (Naval) Ballistic missile submarine. Primary mission is
nuclear deterrence. May also be seen as bomber. (2) (USAF) The
operator of the boom.

Boomer Pin  Term for the Deterrent Patrol pin; the device shows a
ballistic missile sub launching a Polaris ICBM, with a banner below. After
the initial award, subsequent patrols are represented as stars on the
banner. May be awarded and worn before the wearer has earned his warfare
pin by qualifying in submarines.

Boomer Widow  The wife of a boomer sailor, if she chooses to stray
while hes on patrol.

Boondockers  Black shoes, worn as part of the working uniform.

Boondoggle - Travel which is more fun than functional. Applies to many
military schools.

Boresight - (1) A rough method of aligning guns to a sighting system.
(2) Excessive concentration on one situation in a time of plenty, i.e.
tunnel vision. Aka "Head Up And Locked." (3) A location on the
aircraft's datum line, often used as a center point for dogfight radar
scan modes, or when telling the RIO to get a lockup, goddammit!

Boot  Rookie or newbie, as in boot Ensign. Originated
in the habit of referring to a new man as bootcamp, rather
than by name.

Bootneck (RN) - See ROYAL MARINE.

Boot Topping  The black paint used at the waterline of warships.
Separates the hull paint from the anti-fouling underwater paint.

BOSNIA  Big Old Standard Navy Issue Ass. Refers to the size of the
sterns of some (usually female) navy personnel.

Boss  Short for AIR BOSS.

Bosun  The phonetic spelling of boatswain.

Bosuns Whistle (or Pipe)  A small metal whistle used to
signal the announcement of important messages, or for ceremonial purposes.

Bow Array  (Submarine) That part of the subs sonar suite
which is located in the bow.

Box the Compass  (1) To name all the points of the compass. (2) To
face successively in all directions, as when a ship loses steerage and
drifts aimlessly.

Boy Butter  A light tan grease used by weapons types on torpedoes.

Bracket  In shipboard gunnery, a bracket results when one salvo
lands to the left of the target and the next lands to the right.
Adjustments in deflection usually result in a hit soon after.

Bracket and Halving  A method of gunnery fire control. For
example, say a salvo falls left of the target; an aim correction is made
using right deflection, and the next salvo falls to the right of the
target. Another deflection correction is made back to the left, half the
amount of the previous correction. In this way, the fall of shot is walked
onto the target.

Break (the) - Maneuver used by pilots of tactical aircraft to slow to
pattern speed. Typically, a 180-degree turn to the downwind leg at 4.5-6
G's (depending on speed of entry).

Brigadier Chief  Senior Chief Petty Officer (who has one star on
the anchors of his insignia).

Broke Dick  Non-functional. See TITS UP.

Brow  The proper term for what is often called the gangway.

Brown-Bagger  Married member of the crew.

Brown-Shirt  (Aviation) A Plane Captain, so called because of the
brown jersey he wears. aka "turd shirt."

Brownshoe - Member of the aviation community. Refers to the brown boots
or shoes which once were worn by aviation personnel with the Aviation
Green uniform. Unauthorized footgear for a while, but recently re-approved
for all USN service communities.

Brown Water - Shallow water or shallow draft, especially a ship or navy
whose ships are not suited to deep (or open) water and deep-water combat.

Brown Water Ops  Naval operations in shallow water, typically
consisting of water depths of 100 fathoms or less.

Bubblehead - Member of the submarine community. Frequently modified by
members of the surface fleet with the adjective "fucking". See "6
D's".

Buddy Fucker  Someone who will not stand up for, or defend, a
friend or shipmate.

Buddy Store  A self-contained unit which makes it possible for
aircraft not originally designed as tankers to deliver a limited amount of
fuel to other aircraft. Buddy stores are hung on wing or fuselage
hardpoints.

Bug juice - A substance similar in appearance to Kool-Aid which is
served as a beverage aboard USN ships. Its color has no bearing on its
flavor. Largely composed of ascorbic acid. Used extensively as an
all-purpose cleaner/stripper for bulkheads, decks, brass fire nozzles, and
pipes.

Bug Out - 'Getting the hell out of Dodge.' An escape maneuver from an
air-to-air fight, generally consists of choosing the proper moment to
unload and select ZONE FIVE.

Bulkheading - Loudly criticizing a fellow officer.

Bulldog  Codeword for Harpoon cruise missile.

Bull Ensign - Senior ensign aboard. In multi-unit ships, such as a
carrier with its airwing embarked, generally each squadron will have its
own Bull Ensign.

Bull Nuke - Senior nuclear-trained CPO aboard a sub. Junior in

authority to the COB.

Bullnose - A chock placed right over the stem, 'in the eyes' of the
ship.

Bullpen - Term for the large antenna arrays associated with a shore HFDF
(High Frequency Direction Finding) station.

Bullshit Artist  A glib person, or one who lies.

Bullshitting  Lying.

Bumboat  A supply boat, usually of an unofficial nature. Often
purveyors of curios, souvenirs, etc.

Bumfuck Egypt  A (fictitious) bad place to be stationed, or the
figurative ends of the earth.

Bum Nut  Hens egg.

Bunting Tosser, Bunts (RN) - Signals or Radio personnel. The term
originates from the use of semaphore flags for visual signals. Analogous
USN terms: flag wagger,' 'skivvy waver.'

Buoy Jumper  The sailor who climbs up onto a buoy to attach or
remove mooring lines.

Burner - (1) In a submarine, a system that burns carbon monoxide and
hydrogen out of the air, converting H2 to water and CO to CO2. CO2 is then
removed by the SCRUBBER. (2) In aviation, short for afterburner.

Buster - Aviation term for maximum speed available without using
afterburners.

Butt  (1) Cigarette. (2) (obsolete) A wooden cask or barrel. (3)
The bottom end of a spar or other object.

By and Large  Colloquial term meaning For the most part.
Origin of the term seems to be that a ship was considered particularly
seaworthy if it could sail both by (close to the wind) and large
(broad to or before the wind).

CAG - Carrier Air Group. Can also refer to the Carrier Air Group
commander. Sometimes seen as CAW for Carrier or Commander Air Wing.

Cake and Arse  (RNZN) Derogatory term for an officers
cocktail party.

Cake Hole  Mouth. Also seen as "snack hole."

Call For Fire  A method of aiming and controlling indirect fire.

Call the Ball - A radio transmission from a pilot that he has sighted
the BALL during approach to the carrier. Typically consists of SIDE
NUMBER, aircraft type (to ensure proper ARRESTING GEAR settings), and
amount of fuel onboard in thousands of pounds, e.g. '205 Tomcat ball,
3.5'.

Calve  The process whereby icebergs form, as chunks of ice fall
from a glacier into the sea.

Captain of the... - Person in charge of a particular part of the ship,
e.g. Captain of the Focs'le. Derogatory, Captain of the Head.

Captain's Table - (RN) A disciplinary hearing. See CAPTAIN'S MAST.

Careen  To lay a ship on its side in shallow water or on the
beach, generally to work on the hull.

CAS  Close Air Support. Moving mud to help out the grunts.

Cat  (1) Catapult. (2) Short for cat onine tails, a form of
whip used to administer a flogging. Generally made up of three short
lines, each with three knotted ends, spliced to a short rope or wooden
handle.

Charlie Noble  The galley smokestack. The most popular version of
the terms origin is that Charlie Noble was an Admiral who insisted
that the (brass or copper) galley smokestack be polished for inspections.

Charlie Time - Assigned time for carrier aircraft to land, generally
meant as the time that an aircraft crosses the RAMP. "Your Signal
Charlie" means 'commence approach immediately, and land upon
arrival.'

Check Valve  Used to describe a person, it refers to one who does
for himself, but not others.

Cheng - CHief ENGineer. Pronounced 'chang'.

Chicken of the Sea - Ballistic missile submarine, or a crewmember of
same; the nature of their mission is to avoid detection by whatever means
necessary. Their motto is "We hide with pride." See BOOMER.

Chinese Fire Drill  Any evolution notable for its complete lack of
coordination or military smartness.

Chinstrap - (RM) So tired, usually from running, that one's head drops.
Any naval personnel are assumed to be 'on their chinstraps' at all times.

Cinderella Liberty  Liberty where one must be back aboard by
midnight.

Circus  In WW II, a fighter-bomber mission whose primary goal was
to force the German fighter defenses to come up and engage. Usually
consisted of a small bomber force and heavy fighter escort.

Civvy Street  Civilian life.

CIWS - Close-In Weapon System, a short-range anti-missile point defense
system commonly comprised of a radar system and rotary-barreled Gatling
gun. In NATO, the system is the Vulcan Phalanx. A newer version,
Goalkeeper, uses the GAU-8 30mm Gatling gun found in the A-10 Thunderbolt
for increased range and destructive power. Can have anti-surface modes as
well, for use against small craft and the like. Derisive interpretations
of the acronym include: 'Christ, It Won't Shoot', and 'Captain, It Won't
Shoot,' due to common maintenance difficulties.

Clear Datum - (1) (Submarine) To leave the area where you have been
detected (see DATUM). (2) To leave the scene of the crime, especially when
liquor and members of the opposite sex are involved, and particularly if
the member of the opposite sex in question is a GRONK.

Clankie, Clanky - (RN) Mechanical Engineer.

Clara - The radio call from a carrier pilot on approach signifying that
he has not sighted the BALL.

Class Alpha Fire  A fire which leaves ashes.

Class Bravo Fire  A fire involving flaming liquids.

Class Charlie Fire  An electrical fire.

Class Delta Fire  A fire involving special materials and
firefighting methods. Commonly thought to consist of a fire involving
flammable metals, which is one kind of Delta fire, other types of Class
Delta fires involves deep fat fryer equipment.

Clobbered - Weathered in, as in "We made a good approach, but the
field was clobbered and we had to divert." Similar to WOXOF.

Cluster Fuck  An evolution remarkable by its significant lack of
excellence. Mass confusion and chaos. Similar to a GOAT ROPE, Chinese Fire
Drill, etc.

Clutch-Brake  A device used to engage or disengage an engine from
a propellor shaft, and to stop the shaft if need be.

CMC - Command Master Chief. Similar to the COB, but for surface, shore,
and aviation commands. See also MCPOC.

CO - Commanding Officer. The captain or skipper of a vessel. Generally
spoken as 'Charley Oscar'.

Coaming  The raised lip around a hatch. Designed to prevent, or at
least limit, water entry.

COB - Chief Of (the) Boat. Senior enlisted onboard a submarine; acts as
liaison between the crew and the XO.

Coffee Mess  An area, usually in a duty or working area, where
coffee is made and served.

Coffeepot - Nuclear reactor. Aka TEAKETTLE.

Coffin  Bed. See RACK.

COG/SOG  Course Over Ground/Speed Over Ground, i.e. the actual
movements of a vessel with respect to the seabed. The result of the vector
addition of ships heading and speed through the water, and
speed/direction of winds and currents.

CONUS  CONtinental U.S.

Cooky  Ships cook.

Cold Enough to Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey  This term has
nothing to do with testicles or primates, and a good deal of debate
remains to this day regarding the origin of the phrase. In the days of
smoothbore cannon, particularly ashore, ready-use cannon balls were stored
near the guns. The balls were stacked in a monkey, a metal
frame which was laid on the deck to help contain the bottom layer of
cannon balls. Monkeys were typically made of brass. In extremely cold
temperatures, the brass monkey shrank more than the iron cannon balls, and
the stack of balls would collapse. The root of the debate is whether such
an event is possible at all, though the phrase appears to be more a
traditional exaggeration than an engineering possibility.

Cold Iron  An engineering term meaning that the entire engineering
plant has been secured. Lighting off boilers and getting steam up has
always been an involved and lengthy operation, requiring anywhere from an
hour to even longer before the ship could get underway; in time of war,
being caught cold iron could be tactically disastrous. With
the increasing usage of gas turbines, this is less of an issuea gas
turbine ship can get underway within minutes if the lube oil systems are
warm.

Collision Mat - Pancake.

Compartment  A room aboard ship.

Condition 1 - General Quarters (battle stations). May be modified for
certain conditions, such as Condition 1AS, in which all antisubmarine
watch stations and weapons are manned, but AAW stations may not be.
Modified conditions are used to minimize crew fatigue, which can be a
significant factor over a prolonged period at battle stations.

Condition 2  A condition of modified General Quarters, generally
used on large ships.

Condition 3 - A material condition of readiness commonly associated with
wartime steaming where some, usually half, of the ship's weapons are kept
in a manned and ready status at all times.

Condition 4 - A material condition of readiness commonly associated with
peacetime steaming. There are no weapons in a ready status.

Condition 5  A material condition of readiness associated with
peacetime inport status. Other material conditions may be set as needed,
dictated by the threat.

Coner - aka 'noseconer'. A crew member on a submarine who does not work
in the engineering spaces. A non-nuke.

Conformal Array  A sonar array whose transducers are attached at
various locations about the hull, rather than being concentrated on one
location. See also BOW ARRAY.

Con Level  Altitude at which contrails occur due to freezing of
moisture in engine exhaust. To be avoided in tactical situations, as they
make for easy visual detection.

Conn  Has several uses, all to do with control of the ship. (1)
(General Usage) When an officer announces "I have the conn," he
or she is then legally responsible to give proper steering and engine
orders for the safe navigation of the ship. (2) (Submarines) In
submarines, the term used to refer to the conning tower, a structure built
atop the hull from which periscope attacks on shipping were conducted. In
more modern times, the conn refers to the submarines
control center, an analogous compartment located within the pressure hull.

Corpen  (1) A maneuver of a formation of ships. In its simplest
form, ships in a column turn in succession, each at the same point, akin
to a column movement of marching men. (2) Course. Foxtrot Corpen
is the chosen course for flight operations. Romeo Corpen is
the chosen course for underway replenishment.

Counter battery - Firing on enemy artillery. 'Doing unto them before
they can do unto you.'

Courtesy Flush  What someone will ask for if you are stinking up
the head.

Cox - (UK) The Coxswain. The senior rate on a destroyer, frigate, or
smaller vessel. Responsible, among other things, for discipline.

Crab, crabfat - (RN) A member of the Royal Air Force. From the light
blue color of the uniform, which is the same as that of the grease (known
as crabfat) used on gun breeches, etc., in the RN. Accounts
vary, but apparently the grease was called crabfat because it
resembled in color the ointment used to treat sailors for crabs
(pediculosis pubis, genital lice), and of which fat was a major
constituent.

Crinkleneck - Small fish that wait for waste to drop from the SCUTTLE.
Derogatory term for officers and enlisted that figuratively do the same.

Crippie - Cryptographic personnel.

Critter fritters - Fried mystery meat.

Cross-Decking  (1) The practice of transferring men or equipment
from one ship to another, especially when transferring from a ship
returning from deployment to a ship departing or about to depart on
deployment. (2) Cross-training in another rate.

Crossdeck Pendant, CDP - The wire (cable) which the hook of a carrier
aircraft catches to accomplish an arrested landing. The crossdeck pendant
is attached to the purchase cables, which are in turn connected to the
arresting engines belowdecks. The CDP is replaced periodically, depending
on the number of times it has been engaged.

Crow - The rate insignia of a USN Petty Officer (E-4 through E-6),
so-called because of the eagle surmounting the rate chevrons.

Crusher - (RN) A member of the Regulating Branch, i.e. Naval Shore
Patrol.

Cumshaw - Procurement of needed material outside the supply chain,
usually by swapping, barter, or mutual backscratching. Often involves
coffee or other food items. Officially frowned upon, but a widespread
practice.

Cut and Run  To leave quickly, from the practice of cutting a ships
moorings in a hasty departure.

Cut Lights  Part of the array of lights found in the FRESNEL LENS.
Originally used to give the CUT SIGNAL. Most common use today is to
acknowledge that the LSO has heard the approaching pilot call the ball.

Cut of his Jib  From the days of sail, when individual sails were
made aboard the ship and a certain amount of individuality was expressed
in the design (shape and size) of the sails. Ships could be, and were,
identified by the "cut of their jib."

Cut Signal  (or Cut Sign) (1) (aviation) The signal to pull the
throttles back to idle; can be given by the CUT LIGHTS or the classic
throat-cutting gesture. In older use, this signal was used when
piston-engine aircraft come aboard the carrier. With the straight-deck
carriers, an aircraft either trapped successfully or engaged the
barricade. (2) The signal to shut down a piece of gear.

Dabtoe - (RN) Surface sailor.

DACT  Dissimilar Air Combat Training. ACM conducted between
aircraft of different types. Also seen as DACM. Valuable in that it
teaches an aircrew to consider comparative performance points of their
aircraft and others.

Datum  (1) A point or location where a submarine has been detected
or has made its own detection possible, especially by firing missiles or
torpedoes. (2) The horizontal row of green reference lights found on a
FRESNEL LENS array, which indicate the optimum glideslope.

DC - Damage Control.

DCA - Damage Control Assistant. Responsible, under the Chief Engineer,
for damage control and stability of a ship.

Dead Head  The resistance of a magnetic compass to swinging back
and forth excessively; a compass with insufficient deadhead will swing so
much (due to normal movement of the ship or aircraft) that it is difficult
to steer a course.

Dead Horse - An interest-free loan which is paid off via payroll
deduction. Often used to cover relocation expenses, or to pay back a
disbursing error which was originally in your favor.

Deck Ape - Surface fleet personnel, usually Boatswain's Mates, that care
for topside gear and equipment. A type of KNUCKLE-DRAGGER.

6 D's - Deep Diving Death Defying (or Dealing) Denizens of the Deep.
Term used by submariners to refer to themselves. Often used to detect
SKIMMERs by their helpless laughter upon hearing the phrase.

Deeps - (RN) Submariner.

Deep Six  (1) Originally, the call of the leadsman signifying that
the water is more than 6 fathoms deep, but less than seven. (2) Euphemism
for throwing something overboard. Also seen as 'splash', 'float check',
'float test'.

Deflection  In gunnery, the adjustment of fire to the left or
right.

Demurrage  A fine levied for not unloading a ship on time.

Depart, Departure  (Aviation) (1) More properly, Standard
Instrument Departure (SID). One of a number of standard combinations of
flight profile and headings used to depart an airfield. Used to regularize
and speed up an aircrafts departure from the airfield and its
crowded airspace. SIDs are published procedures. (2) Short for departure
from controlled flight, a regime of flight where the aircraft is
uncontrollable. Generally the result of a stall, either accelerated or
unaccelerated. May or may not result in the aircraft entering a spin.

Deuce  (or Ma Deuce) Browning cal fifty heavy machine gun.

(The) Devil to Pay  Originally, the saying was "The devil to
pay and no pitch hot." In the old wooden-hulled ships, devil
seams joined the external hull timbers with the deck planking; there are
also references to a devil seam back aft, where the hull timbers join at
the rudder post. Seams were caulked, or sealed, by jamming oakum fiber
into the gaps, then smearing the seam with melted pitch or tar. If one of
these seams worked open in rough weather, a great deal of water could be
shipped before it was repaired. This term is probably the origin of the
term hell to pay.

DIB - (RCN) Any non-engineering personnel.

Dick the dog  (1) Screwing around; being unproductive. "When
you guys are done dicking the dog, I could use a hand over here."

Dickey Front  (UK) The flap in the front of the traditional sailors
trousers.

Dicksmith  Hospital Corpsman.

DILLIGAF  Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck? A term indicating sublime
indifference to someone elses plight.

Dink - Spoken form of 'Delinquent In Qual, pronounced to rhyme
with pink. Someone delinquent in PQS qualification points. A
weekly points goal is typically set by each command that an NQP (q.v.)
must achieve. Failure to do so means daily mandatory study hours
supervised by the duty Chief.

Dip - To lower a sonar transducer into the water from a hovering
helicopter.

Direct Fire  Gunnery and fire control where the fall of shot can
be directly observed by the firing unit.

Dirt Sailor  A member of the Navys Construction Battalions
(Seabees).

Dit - (RN) Short written note.

Dive the intakes - Cleaning engine air intakes, usually by crawling into
them.

Dive Planes  The "elevators" of a submarine, used to
control the dive (pitch) angles. Usually there are two pairs of planes,
mounted on bow and stern, or on the fairwater and stern.

Dixie Cup - The USN sailor's white hat. See also WHITEHAT.

Dixie Station - One of the two positions typically occupied by an
aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. 'Dixie' was the southern
station, tasked with troop support (CAS).

Dobie - (RCN) Laundry. Also seen as 'Dhobi.'

Dobie Dust - (RCN) Laundry soap.

Dockyard Tour - (RN) An excuse to slide away early when at a fleet
school.

Dodge City - Diego Garcia, a British possession in the approximate
middle of the Indian Ocean. US military forces also operated from there.

Dog Watch  (1) A shortened watch period. Generally, two two-hour
watches, designated First and Second (or First and Last, RCN), arranged so
that personnel on watch can eat the evening meal. Usually 1600 to 1800 and
1800 to 2000. Also serves to alternate the daily watch routine so sailors
with the midwatch one night will not have it the next time. Origin of term
unclear. (2) (RCN) An unpopular watch, usually the 2400-0400 or 0400-0800.
See also WATCH.

Doggie Dicks  Breakfast sausages.

Dolphins - The warfare insignia of the submarine fleet. Aka 'tin tunas',
'pukin' fish'. Represented as two heraldic dolphins flanking the prow of a
WW II-type submarine, gold for officers and silver for enlisted. "Getting
(one's) dolphins"--achieving the status of a qualified submariner.

Donkey Dick - (1) The nozzle of an inline proportioner in a

firefighting hoseline for AFFF. (2) (RNZN) The inflated tube that holds
up the center of the roof of a lifeboat. Note: this term is also used for
literally dozens of other objects in the naval service.

Double Nuts - Aircraft with side number zero-zero. Often the CAG's bird.

Douche Kit  Shaving Gear.

DOW - Diving Officer of the Watch.

Down to the Short Strokes - Nearly done; almost finished.

Draeger Tubes - An older method of sampling atmosphere, in which a
hand-held pump is used to draw samples into the test system.

Drifty  A sailor who is not SQUARED AWAY. Probably comes from adrift.

Drilling holes in the water (or ocean) - Term for the underwater
operations of a submarine. Also refers to sailing any ship from point A to
point B for no particular reason.

Drip - (RN) Complain. "The Chief was dripping about the state of
the world."

Droplights - Red lights arranged vertically below the RAMP, on the
approach centerline, on the carrier's stern. Used to provide lineup cues
for night landings.

DTG - (1) Days To Go. Short-timer's record-keeping. (2) Date-Time Group,
part of the header of a message which indicates the date, time, and
timezone of the message's origin.

Duff - (RCN, RN) (1) Dessert. (2) Broken, or useless.

Dumbo  During World War Two, an aircraft (often a B-17) modified
for long range air-sea rescue.

Dusty- (RN) Stores rating, especially one concerned with food. More
fully 'Jack Dusty'. USN usage, 'Jack o' the Dust.' In its original usage,
the Dusty was a sailor (Jack, in British naval terminology)
assigned responsibility for the bread room, where flour was stowed.

Dynamited Chicken  Chicken a la King.

EAB - Emergency Air Breathing mask. A sealed mask with an airhose and a
quick disconnect to attach to the main EAB system. When using this, a
crewman is said to be 'sucking rubber'.

Eight o'clock Reports - Reports made by all department heads to the XO,
who then takes them to the CO. The reports usually consist of equipment
reports and position reports, significant events of the day or of the day
to come, etc.

ELSA - (RN) Emergency Life Support Apparatus. Consists of a clear
plastic hood and an air bottle, used to escape from smoke-filled spaces.

EMI - Extra Military Instruction. Duties assigned as punishment which
are also intended to improve one's military knowledge. Chipping paint
would not qualify as EMI, while inventorying the ship's pubs
(publications) would.

Evap - Distilling unit, aka 'the still'. Used to produce fresh water at
sea, both for the boilers and for potable usage. For many years, vacuum "flash"
evaps were used; reverse osmosis systems are becoming more common now.

Ex  Short for exercise. Some forms: mobex, drunkex,
borex, sinkex.

FAG - Fighter-Attack Guy. The pilot of an F/A-18.

Fairwater  (1) Submarine) The more modern term for the conning
tower of a submarine. (2) A structure on a ship which is designed to
deflect or redirect water flow.

Fairwater Planes  Diving planes located on a submarines
fairwater.

Fake Down  To lay out a line to permit free running while
maintaining seamanlike appearance. Generally used for large-diameter
lines. The line is laid out in long parallel lines, generally starting up
against a bulwark or deck edge and working inboard from there.

Fall of Shot  Where (or when) a shell or salvo lands.

Fancy Dinns  (UK) Steak and wine night at sea. Usually hosted by
the various departments.

FANG  Fucking Air National Guard, or Florida Air National Guard.
See also FNG.

Fang Bosun (or Farrier)  Dentist.

Fanny  (UK) A mess tin. Named for Fanny Adams, a girl who was
murdered and dismembered about the same time that tinned meat was
introduced into the Royal Navy.

Fast Cruise  A training exercise whereby the ship simulates being
underway while remaining tied to the pier. Generally the brow and all
shore services are secured and the ship is on internal systems only.

Feather Merchant  A lightweight, i.e. someone who doesnt
hold up his end, or doesnt do his (or her) share of the work. An
older term, circa WW II, not frequently seen now. Similar to CANDYASS.

FESTA - Fire Extinguishing System, Twin Agent. An installation which
pairs an AFFF-dispensing system with a PKP-dispensing system. Often found
in engineering spaces. An obsolete term; replaced with TAU (q.v.).

FFG  Guided Missile Frigate. Derisively, "Forever Fucking
Gone."

Fiddlers Green  Sailors heaven.

Field Day - To scrub or otherwise clean a ship's spaces. Usually ordered
when the COB or the XO thinks morale is low.

FIFI  "Fuck ItFly It." Spoken by the
maintenancemen when they cant find the solution to a gripe, in the
hopes that it will fix itself (it never does).

Final Diameter  The diameter of a circle inscribed by a turning
ship once it has stabilized in its turn. Smaller than the ships
TACTICAL DIAMETER.

First Lieutenant - (1) (USN) Deck Division officer aboard ship, or
officer responsible for general seamanship and deck evolutions. In a ship
with a large deck department, especially where it is key to the ship's
mission, such as a carrier or amphib, generally the deck department head.
(2) (RN) Executive Officer of a ship, if a Lieutenant Commander or below.

Fish  (1) Torpedo. (2) The expendable portion of the XBT (q.v.), a
streamlined weight and sensor fitted with a wire dispenser. (3) The
sound-generating towed body of a NIXIE (q.v.) installation.

Fisheyes  Tapioca pudding.

Fish Head - (RN) WAFU term for the rest of the RN surface crowd.

Fist - (RN) To make a 'good' fist of something is to do it well. To make
a 'real' fist of something is to do it badly.

Flaming Datum - A burning ship, or a missile breaking water. See also
DATUM.

Flat Top  Aircraft carrier.

Fleet Up  To promote from within.

Flemish  To coil a line on deck so that it can run freely while
maintaining a seamanlike appearance. Generally used for lines of small
diameter. The line is laid in a flat, close-coiled spiral on the deck.

Flinders Bar  Bar with spherical correcting magnets. Found on a
binnacle.

Float Test - Testing the buoyant qualities of unwanted material while at
sea.

Flotsam  Floating wreckage released from a sunken ship. See also
JETSAM.

Flying Bravo  When a woman is menstruating, she is said to be flying
Bravo. The Bravo alphabet flag is all red.

Focsle  The phonetic spelling for forecastle,
the forward-most part of the ship.

FOD - Foreign Object Damage. Can be used as a noun ("Look at the
piece of FOD I picked up.") or a verb ("Dave FODded his engine
last night.") Any object, including people, which might be sucked
into, and thereby damage, a jet engine.

FOD Burger  Someone who has become FOD.

FOD Walkdown - (1) Unpopular activity aboard aviation ships where all
personnel not on watch line up and walk the flight deck from end to end,
picking up any object that might damage an engine or, if picked up by jet
blast, an eye. The human broom picking up any and every small item on the
flight deck.

Foul Deck - A flight deck which is unsafe for landings. May be due to a
crash, location of an aircraft, gear, or personnel, or the condition of
the deck surface.

Foul Deck Waveoff  A WAVEOFF given due to a foul deck.

Foul Line - Painted lines on the flight deck which delineate an area
which must be kept clear for flight operations to proceed safely.

Four by Eight  the 0400 to 0800 watch.

Four-ringer - (RN) Captain.

Fox One (Two, Three, Four) - Used to report the launch of a air-to-air
missile, from the 'Foxtrot' (F) of the phonetic alphabet. 'Fox One' is a
semi-active radar-homing missile, e.g. Sparrow (AIM-7). 'Fox Two' is a
heat-seeking missile, e.g. Sidewinder (AIM-9). 'Fox Three' is an active
radar-homing missile--either Phoenix (AIM-54) or the AIM-120 AMRAAM
missile (the Air Force sometimes uses Fox Three to report firing of guns.)
'Fox Four' is sometimes used derisively to refer to a midair collision.

Fox Oscar - Fuck Off.

Fresh Air Snipe - Rates which spend at least some of their time in the
engineering spaces, and are members of the Engineering Dept., but do not
work solely with engineering machinery. Includes rates such as IC
(Interior Communications Electrician) and EM (Electrician's Mate), though
nuke EMs are seldom seen outside the plant.

Fresnel Lens  aka The Lens, a gyro-stabilized arrangement of
lights that gives a carrier pilot glideslope information during his
approach to landing, or when simulating same ashore. A glowing yellow
image, 'THE BALL,' is visible to the pilot on approach. A horizontal row
of green DATUM lights represents the perfect glideslope angle.
The ball moves vertically on the Fresnel lens array as the aircraft moves
up and down the glideslope; a high balli.e. the ball is above the
datum lightsindicates that the aircraft is above the optimum
glideslope. If the ball is lined up with the datum lights, the aircraft is
correctly positioned on the glideslope. The ball appears red if the pilot
gets dangerously low. The lens also has red lights mounted on it which can
be used to give WAVEOFF and CUT commands. Fresnel lens installations are
also found on almost all Naval Air Station runways. A simplified form of
the lens is mounted on ships which operate helicopters.

Friday/Sunday Routine - (RN) Field day aboard, followed by CO's

rounds. A cake or a couple of cases of beer are awarded to the

cleanest mess on the ship.

FTN - 'Fuck The Navy.' Term used by short-timers, attitude cases, and
sailors having a bad day. Facetiously, Fun-Time Navy.

FTN Space (the) - An obscure, hard-to-get-to space, compartment, or
void; used to hide from officers or chiefs. According to legend, some
ships have had such spaces which do not show up on the official blueprints
at all. Persistent rumors exist of entire, fully-outfitted machinery
spaces which do not officially exist on the ships drawings.

Gangway  (1) Today, more properly called a "brow," the
temporary bridge connecting the ships quarterdeck to the pier. (2) A
call to get out of the way, which originated as a call for junior
personnel to give precedence to a senior while crossing the gangway.

Ganked  Stolen. "Hey, who ganked my sandwich?"

Gash  (1) Garbage or rubbish. Also used to refer to any unwanted

item. (2) Uncomplimentary term for a woman.

Gate - Aviation term for use of maximum afterburners. Aka 'zone five'.

Gator  Vessel of the amphibious force.

Gator Freighter  Amphibious warfare cargo ship.

Gawkers, Walkers, and Talkers - Off-duty personnel. They can usually be
found cluttering up passageways or decks where real work is being done.

Gear (the) - Arresting gear.

Geedunk, Gedunk - (1) Dessert/junk food/candy, or a place to buy same.
Aka 'pogey bait'. (2) "Extras" or benefits, awards, ribbons, or
medals. (3) Easy or "sweet" duty. Can be used as noun or verb.

Gedunk Medal  National Defense Service Medal. Considered
meaningless, it was awarded to anyone who served in a certain time frame
during and subsequent to the Vietnam War.

GIB - "Guy In Back". More common in Air Force usage, refers to
the backseater (pilot, non-pilot, or NFO) of a 2-place tactical aircraft,
aka the bear, or the pitter' (the guy in the pit).
In two-seat USN/USMC fighters, more commonly called the RIO. In A-6's, the
Bombardier/ Navigator or BN, even though he sits beside the pilot rather
than behind. In S-3 Vikings, more properly an Overwater Jet Navigator
(OJN).

Gig Line  On a sailors uniform, a line formed by the
buttoned shirt, a crease on the belt buckle, and the trousers fly.
If your gig line isnt straight, you hear about it at personnel
inspections.

Gin Pennant  (UK) An unofficial flag flown to signify that a ships
wardroom has free drinks or a celebration underway. Usually green with a
wine or cocktail glass on it.

Give Way  (1) An order to oarsmen to begin pulling. (2) In the
Rules of the Nautical Road, a ship which must maneuver to avoid another
ship is called the "give way vessel." Similarly, it may be used
to refer to getting out of someones way.

GLOC - G-induced Loss Of Consciousness. Pronounced 'gee-lock'.

Can be induced by magnitude or duration of the G load, the rate at which
G's are applied, or a combination of these factors.

GMT  General Military Training. Non-specific training on military
matters, often assigned as NJP.

Goat Locker - Chiefs' Quarters and Mess. The term originated during the
era of wooden ships, when Chiefs were given charge of the milk goats on
board. Nowadays more a term of respect for the age of its denizens. See
also MENOPAUSE MANOR.

Goat Rope  An evolution which is not going at all well;
disorganized; chaotic.

God Botherer - (RN) The chaplain. Aka 'Sin Bosun', 'Sky Bosun'.

God's G - The acceleration due to gravity.

Goffa - Any non-alcoholic drink (why bother?).

Goffer - (RM) A large wave. Usually shouted as a warning.

Golden BB - That one bullet or shell that ruins your (or your opponents)
day in a dogfight or when conducting ground attacks.

Golden Rivet - The mythical last rivet which completes a ship.

Generally found in the depths of the engineering spaces, a maneuver used
to get a female guest to bend over. "And if you look 'way down there,
you can see the golden rivet!"

Golden Shellback - One who has crossed the Equator at the International
Date Line.

Gong  (RN/RCN/RAN) Medal.

Gonk - (RN) To sleep, perchance to dream. "I think I'll have a gonk
before we hit the beach."

Gonzo Station - The rendezvous point for aircraft carrier battle groups
off the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

GQ - General Quarters. The call for all hands to man battle stations.
Often used prepare the crew to react to a potential emergency. For
example, a ship will call away general quarters for a major fuel or oil
leak in the engineering spaces (to prepare in case a fire results). RN
form is Action Stations.

Grand Slam  Radio call for the successful SPLASH (destruction) of
an air contact. "Grand Slam with birds" signifies a kill with
missiles.

Grannie  (UK) Slow, old, or tentative.

Grape - (1) Easy pickings, esp. in ACM, or a PQS signature obtained from
a friend. (2) Member of the flight deck fuels crew, who wear purple
jerseys.

Grape Sig - An easy signature on your qual card, generally given in
return for a favor. The signature is traditionally in purple ink, and the
practice is frowned upon.

Gray Funnel Line - (RN) The Royal Navy surface fleet.

Green Board  An obsolete term used in submarines to indicate
status of various hull openings, and therefore the ability of the boat to
submerge safely. A properly closed hull opening was indicated by a green
light. An open, or unsafe, closure was indicated by a red light. The more
modern, safer "STRAIGHT BOARD" report came into use because when
a sub was "RIGGED FOR RED", red unsafe indications were not
readily visible on the monitor panel.

Greenie - (RN) (1) Electrician. (2) Weapons Electrical Branch. (3) A
signboard used to track and display landing scores of the pilots of a
squadron, the 'greenie board.' (4) A fiber-type scrubbing or scouring pad.
(5) Green (solid, not just spray) water coming aboard.

Grog  (UK) Pussers rum mixed with two parts water. So called
from the name of the officer that regularized the issue of watered rum
aboard British ships. Admiral Vernon was referred to as "Old Grog"
for his habit of wearing overcoats made of a material called grogram.

Gronk - (RN) Ugly or unattractive, especially a member of the

opposite sex.

Grunion  Yard worker. Literally, a species of fish.

Grunt  A Marine. Aka Leatherneck.

G-suit - A piece of gear worn by flight crews in tactical aircraft. Uses
compressed air to squeeze the calves, thighs, and stomach to reduce the
blood-pooling effects of hard maneuvering. aka speed jeans.

Guard  (1) International distress radio frequencies, including
243.0 MHz and 121.5 kHz. (2) To maintain a specific type of listening
watch on a radio net or circuit.

Gulch  (RN/RCN/RAN) A collection of PITs. Berthing space.

Gun Boss - WEPS.

Gun Busters - (RCN) Naval weapons ratings.

Gundeck - To mark a maintenance or PMS check as complete without doing
the work. Aka 'Pencil-whipping,' especially when intentionally falsifying
logs or records, filling in the blanks just before an inspection. Aka
'Radioing in' a report. Radioing is also used to refer to work
that is logged before it is performed.

Gunner - (1) Aviation: the CAG Weapons Officer. Responsible for

the air-launched weapons. (2) Surface: Term of address for a

Warrant Officer gunnery or weapons specialist.

Gunny - Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant (E-7).

Gyrene  (US) Marine

Hack - (1) Informal confinement to quarters or to squadron spaces. (2)
Time check, though this usage is more common to USAF than USN.

H and I - A military mission emphasizing Harassment and Interdiction of
enemy forces and supply routes.

Halfway Party  A party celebrating the midpoint of a submarine
cruise.

Hangar Queen  (Aviation) An aircraft that never seems to be in
flyable condition, it often sits in a corner and provides spare parts for
serviceable aircraft instead.

Hanging Out - (RM) Similar to CHINSTRAP (q.v.), but worse, i.e. 'Hanging
out of their arses.'

Hard Deck  (Aviation) A safety altitude (expressed as AGL). If an
aircraft breaks the hard deck, it is considered a safety-of-flight
violation (a serious transgression). Commonly 5000 feet AGL. See also SOFT
DECK.

Hardpoint  Location or locations on an aircrafts wings and
fuselage where weapons or other stores can be hung

Hashmarks  (1) Chevrons or stripes worn on the sleeve to signify
years of service. (2) Poop stains on ones underwear.

Hatch - An opening in the deck, and its closure. Sometimes (incorrectly)
used to mean a watertight door, which is mounted vertically in a bulkhead.

Hat Locker  Head.

Head  Marine toilet. In its original form, toilet facilities were
found right forward in the bows, so that the smell would be blown downwind
and away from the ship (since sailing ships could not lie directly into
the wind when underway). The extreme fore part of a ship was known as the
"beakhead," which may have been shortened to "head"
over time.

Heave Around  The order to haul in on a line, wire, or anchor
chain, whether with power (windlass or capstan) or by hand.

Heaving Deck - Call from the LSO to a pilot on approach to the carrier
that the vertical movement of the deck due to the action of wind and wave
is sufficient to be a factor in the approach. Not only may BALL
indications be erroneous, but upward deck movement combined with aircraft
descent rate may result in damaging impact at touchdown.

Heave the lead  To take soundings by throwing a lead weight ("the
lead", rhymes with dead) on a line ahead of the vessel,
then pulling the line taut and reading the depth from markers on the line
as the ship passes over the weight.

Heave to  In a sailing ship, to come into the wind and essentially
stop, with minimum sail area exposed. Used to wait out a squall or storm.

High Order  In general usage, performing calibration on someone by
yelling or other attention-getting activity. Basically, yelling and
screaming. Often referred to as "going high order."

High Speed, Low Drag  (1) A HOT RUNNER (a very strong performer).
(2) One who does his job with no concern for those around him. (3) An easy
job, or one involving a minimum of red tape.

Hi-Pac - High Pressure Air Compressor. Also seen as HPAC, "aitch-pack."

Hold Down - In ASW, to hold contact on a sub long enough to force it to
surface due to battery exhaustion or lack of oxygen aboard. Only applies
to non-nuke subs.

Hollywood shower - An excessively long shower.

Hong Kong Haircut  Blowjob.

Hook  (1) Anchor. (2) (Aviation) Short for tailhook.

Hook Point - The part of the tailhook that actually engages the wires.
It is replaced periodically, as it is worn down by contact with the deck
or by field arrestment. Field traps are particularly rough on the hook
point, as it is common practice to touch down well prior to the gear and
roll into it. As the hook is held down on the deck by a gas-pressurized
snubber, wear is accelerated.

Hook Skip Bolter  A BOLTER which results when the arresting hook
bounces over the wires.

Hooky - (RN) Leading rate. So called from the fouled anchor rate badge.

Hoover - (1) S-3 Viking, so called for the vacuum cleaner-like sound of
its turbofan engines. (2) Any jet aircraft, for their tendency to suck
objects and debris up off the ground, but especially a jet aircraft with a
chin or beard intake, such as the A-7 Corsair II or F-8 Crusader.

Horse-cock - Sandwich meat, usually served at MIDRATS, made with mystery
meat masquerading as bologna or other lunch meat. The legendary 'tube
steak.' Aka 'cylindrical sirloin', 'fillet of mule tool.'

Horse Latitudes  An area of variable and fickle winds on either
side of the doldrums. Sailing ships which were becalmed here often had to
throw live cargo such as livestock over the side to conserve water. The
bloated carcasses sometimes floated for quite some time, and were often
seen by other ships.

Hot Rack (or Rack)  Sharing of beds due to a lack of living space
aboard ship.

Hot Run  A torpedo which lodges in its tube when fired, or which
activates itself without being fired. A very dangerous situation, as the
torpedos warhead could easily "cook off" from the heat
buildup.

Hot Runner  A high performer, one who consistently does well.

Hotel Services  Power, water, and steam used for cooking, heating,
laundry, or other non-engineering purposes.

IFR  (1) Instrument Flight Rules. Derisively, 'I Follow Roads'. An
FAA-defined set of flight rules where the aircraft is under positive radar
control. Legal responsibility for safe flight and collision avoidance
rests with the Air Traffic Control center, although a certain amount of
legal and moral responsibility always rests with the pilot(s). Has nothing
to do with meteorological conditions. (2) In-Flight Refueling  q.v.

I&I  Intercourse and Intoxication. A takeoff on R&R

Illuminate, illumination - (1) The targeting of an object with radar,
especially for weapons guidance purposes. Differs from 'PAINT' (q.v.) in
that painting is generally used to denote detection and tracking, while
illumination is generally for guidance of weapons. (2) The lighting-up of
an area with flares, often abbreviated 'illum' (pronounced to rhyme with room).

Illumination Round - Star shell

IMC - Instrument Meteorological Conditions. A set of FAA-defined
criteria for inflight visibility.

Indexer  (Aviation) In most common usage, the indicator lights
mounted on an aircrafts glare shield to indicate AOA during an
approach to landing. The light array consists of a red fast
indication (an upward-pointing chevron) at the bottom of the array, a
green slow indication (a downward-pointing chevron) at the
top, and a yellow on-speed indication (a circle) in the center. It is
generally only active while the landing gear are deployed.

Indirect Fire  Gunnery and fire control where the fall of shot
must be observed by someone other than the firing unit, whether an
aircraft or a team on the ground.

In-flight Arrestment - Occurs during an arrested landing if the hook
engages the CROSSDECK PENDANT while the main gear are not on deck.
Generally the result of a significantly non-excellent approach or a
too-close waveoff, visually it looks like what happens to the dog in the
cartoon when he reaches the end of the chain while running. Aircraft
damage can result.

In-Flight Refueling  Replenishing an aircrafts fuel supply
in flight. US Navy systems use the "probe and drogue" system
where a hose is streamed aft of the tanker aircraft. The receiving
aircraft then plugs into the drogue (also called the basket)
and receives fuel. Probe and Drogue systems are in use in numerous other
military services around the world as well. The US Air Force uses the "boom"
method, which has a much higher rate of fuel delivery. In this method, the
receiving aircraft flies in close formation aft of and just below the
tanker aircraft. A boom operator ("boomer") aboard the tanker
aligns the boom via control surfaces and plugs it into a receptacle on the
receiving aircraft.

INT  Spoken as "eye-en-tee." Short form of the radio
pro-word "Interrogative". Also used as a phrase in flag or Morse
comms.

Irish Pennant - (1) (RN) Loose mop strings left in the flat. May be seen
as Irish Pendant. (2) (USN) More generically, any dangling or
loose thread on a uniform, or lines left adrift or dangling from the upper
works or rigging of the ship.

Iron Lung - (RN) Soda dispenser filled with beer.

Jack - (1) (UK) General nickname for Royal Navy sailors. (obsolete, from
'Jack Tar') (2) The Union Jack, a small flag flown from the jackstaff on
the bow of USN ships inport; has a blue field and 50 white stars. It is
also flown from the yardarm when a court martial or court of inquiry is in
session aboard. (3) To slowly turn the propeller shaft or shafts of a ship
when engines are stopped, both to maintain the oil film in shaft bearings
and to prevent the shaft from bowing from its own weight.

Jacking Gear - The machinery used to jack a shaft. May also be used to
lock the shaft.

Jack of the Dust  See DUSTY.

Jackspeak  (UK) Language used by sailors.

JANFU - Joint Army-Navy Fuck-Up.

Jarhead  GRUNT, or Marine. Reportedly, due to the "high and
tight" haircut favored by many marines; it looks as if someone put a
bowl on the victims head and cut or shaved off all the hair that
protruded.

Jetsam  Objects thrown over the side to lighten ship. See also
FLOTSAM.

Jimmy, Jimmy the One - (RN) First Lieutenant of a ship.

Joe Shit the Ragman - The generic US Navy dirtbag or screwup. Also seen
as 'J.S. Ragman'. Aka Seaman Jones, Joe/Seaman Schumckatelli, etc.

Judy - Radio call signifying that the fighter has radar contact on the
BOGEY or BANDIT and can complete the intercept without further assistance
from the controller.

Jury Rig  A temporary fix.

Ki, kai, kye - (RN) Hot chocolate made from slab chocolate shavings
mixed with water into a cloyingly sweet drink. Pronounced to rhyme with
'try'.

Killick - (RN, RCN) Leading rate. Often used with the branch name or
nickname, e.g. Killick Stoker, Killick Bunting Tosser.

King Neptune - The mythological God of the Sea. He always presides, with
his court, at the LINE-CROSSING CEREMONY.

Knee-knockers - The coaming of a watertight door or bulkhead opening.
These coamings are a foot or so off the deck. So called because they can
wreak havoc on the shins of those new to shipboard life.

Knock It Off  (Aviation) The radio call to stop an ACM engagement.
May be made for safety reasons, fuel shortage, or because an aircraft has
met the kill criteria for the exercise. Any participant (or an observer)
may make the call.

Lawn Mower - (RN) 'Flashing up a lawn mower' is a term used when a
sailor is about to steal away or woo another sailor's companion away.
Cutting one's fellow sailor's grass.

Leatherneck  US Marine. Derives from the historical use of a
leather collar or stock to protect the neck from saber cuts. Also BOOTNECK
(RN), GRUNT, JARHEAD, MUDPUPPY. All terms frequently modified by Naval
personnel with the fond adjective "fucking".

Lens (the) - See FRESNEL LENS

Let the Cat Out of the Bag  Originally, this term simply meant to
remove the cat (cat onine tails) from its baize bag, generally
preliminary to administering punishment. The terms meaning today is
to reveal a secret.

Liberty Hound  Party animal.

Liberty Risk  Someone with a reputation for getting into trouble
while on liberty.

Lifer (or Lifer Dog)  A career member of the service, or one who
has been in a long time.

Light Off  Start.

Light Water  See AFFF.

Line  (1) What mere mortals call rope, the sailor
calls line. Small line is called by the number of threads its
made up of (e.g. 9-thread line); larger line is sized by its circumference
(rather than diameter). Traditionally, the PORKCHOP buys rope, but as soon
as you cut a piece off of the spool, it is called line. (2)
The equator.

Line-Crossing Ceremony - The ceremony which turns POLLYWOGs into
SHELLBACKs. Enjoyed much more by the Shellbacks than by the 'Wogs. Held
when a vessel crosses the Equator. During the ceremony, POLLYWOGS are made
to go through a number of ordeals, each more disgusting than the last.
These trials are conducted in full view of KING NEPTUNE and his court.
Once the ceremony is completed, the POLLYWOG is now a SHELLBACK. Similar
ceremonies are conducted for Orders of the BLUENOSE and REDNOSE.

List  The static (at rest) tendency of a ship to lie with her
decks not level in beamwise (side to side) aspect, due to imbalances in
her loadout or perhaps due to flooding. See also ROLL.

Loadtoad  (1) (aviation) See REDSHIRT. (2) (surface) A small
ceramic frog used as a talisman to prevent loss of the load (see LOSE THE
LOAD). Similar to the chicken bones used by other rates to ward off evil
spirits.

Log Room - An engineering space used for engineering admin purposes,
often used as the office for the engineering dept.

Lose the Bubble - Originally, to assume such an extreme up- or
down-angle in a submarine that the bubble of the inclinometer is no longer
visible. In common usage, to lose SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. See BRAIN FART.

Lose the load  To lose electrical power. Also seen as 'Drop the
load.'

LoPac - LOw Pressure Air Compressor. Also seen as LPAC, "ell-pack."

Lower Deck Lawyer  (UK) A know-it-all sailor. The US version is a
SEA LAWYER.

successfully or not) is worth 1 point. A 'cut pass' counts zero points
and is considered to have put ship, plane, and pilot in danger.

Lubbers Line  The vertical mark on a compass bowl to mark
the ships heading. To chase the lubbers line is to
be unable to hold a steady course.

Lucky bag - A compartment maintained by the Chief Master at Arms where
gear adrift is stored. Personnel can retrieve gear adrift items by working
off EMI. If after a period of time the items are not claimed, they are
sold with the funds going to the Rec Fund. Also scran-bag (RN).

MAD - (1) Magnetic Anomaly Detector; as in MAD boom, MAD bird.

(2) Marine Aviation Detachment.

MADMAN - The call of the MAD operator when his gear detects an undersea
object (ostensibly a submarine).

Mail Buoy Watch - A practical joke pulled on inexperienced crewmembers
and midshipmen which revolves around convincing the victim that mail is
delivered to a ship at sea via a buoy.

Main Control - The engineering space from which the operations of the
engineering spaces are controlled. Watchstation of the EOOW.

Main Space - Engine room or fire room or, collectively, both/all.

Make and Mend  Originally, a half-day off from normal ships
work to make and/or mend clothing.

Make a play for the deck - A maneuver guaranteed to attract the ire of
the LSO and the BOSS, where the pilot tries to salvage a non-excellent
approach with a dive for the deck and the arresting wires. Can result in
damage to the aircraft, even a RAMPSTRIKE. Improves the BOARDING RATE but
costs at the GREENIE BOARD.

Makee-Learnee  Also seen as make-ye learnee. A term for on-the-job
training.

Make Fast  To tie off (a line) securely.

Make Way  (1) From the Rules of the Nautical Road, when a ship is
making way she is proceeding under her own power, whether by power or
sail. Often confused with UNDER WAY (q.v.); a ship which is adrift (not
under power) is under way, but not making way, even though she may be
moving with respect to the seabed due to wind and current effects. (2) A
command to get out of the way.

MARDET - MARine DETachment.

Marine Napkin  The flap on the front of the traditional 13-button
trousers.

Marine Shower  Changing clothes without bathing, usually just
applying deodorant. Similar to POMMIE BATH.

Masker - A noise-reduction system in which air is pumped into the water
from belts in the vicinity of the engineering spaces.

Matelot - (RN) A sailor. Actually, the word is French and means,
literally, sailor. The reason sailors are referred to as mateys.
Pronounced to rhyme with glow.

Material Condition Xray - A material condition where fittings or
closures (hatches, watertight doors, valves, flappers, etc.) marked with
an 'X' ('X-ray, in the phonetic alphabet) must be closed. Generally seen
only inport. Surface ships only.

Material Condition Yoke - Closures marked 'X' and 'Y' must be kept
closed. This is the normal daylight underway material condition, and
represents a minimal condition of watertight integrity.

Material Condition Zebra - All fittings and closures marked 'X', 'Y',
and 'Z' must be closed. Maximum watertight integrity. "Set Condition
Zebra" is the command to close all water-tight doors, hatches, and
fittings throughout the ship. Usually follows the call to GQ.

Material Condition Circle William - A material condition involving
ventilation fittings and machinery marked with a 'W' inside a circle. Used
to control the spread of smoke in a fire belowdecks, or in preparation for
an NBC attack.

Max Conserve - Signal to aircraft to use power levels appropriate for
maximum endurance. 'Loiter' is similar, although loitering usually
involves staying in one place. 'Max Conserve' more properly applies to an
aircraft flying a long-range profile.

MCAS - Marine Corps Air Station.

MCPOC  (pronounced mickpock) Master Chief Petty
Officer Of the Command. Senior MCPO assigned to the unit. Similar to the
COB of a submarine.

Meatball - (obsolete) A system in which a red light was reflected off a
large parabolic mirror and projected aft to provide glideslope data to the
pilot on approach. In common usage today, synonymous with the luminous
yellow display of the FRESNEL LENS system which replaced it.

Menopause Manor - (RN) Chiefs Quarters. See GOAT LOCKER.

MER  Multiple Ejector Rack, a device used to increase the amount
of ordnance carried by an aircraft. Allows up to six weapons to be hung on
a single set of shackles, depending on weight and other limitations.

Mess Mother - (RN) Senior hand of the mess, responsible to the COX'N for
the cleanliness and good order of the mess decks.

Mickey Mouse Book - See PIPING TAB.

Midrats - Food served at midnight for ongoing watchstanders, although
the oncoming watch section commonly does not get up early enough to
partake. Offgoing section gets the remnants, if any. Usually a combination
of leftovers, plus something new to round out the service.

Military Power - Aviation term for maximum 'dry' power, i.e. without
afterburner.

Milk Bottle Shoulders  Refers to someone who is unwilling or
unable to shoulder responsibility.

Mind Your Ps and Qs  In the past, when sailors were paid and went
ashore for liberty, the tavern keepers knew how much they were paid. Theyd
keep tally of a sailors beer consumption by marking up P
for pints and Q for quarts, then settling up with the sailor
at the end of the evening. If a sailor failed to mind his Ps and Qs,
hed come up short (or perhaps be cut off by the bartender).

Monkey on a stick - Derisive term for dish similar to satay chicken,
served on skewers, by street vendors in any port of call. In third-world
countries, only consumed by drunk sailors and Marines, due to questionable
sanitation practices.

Monkey Fist - The complex knot surrounding (sometimes taking the place
of) the weight on the end of a heaving line.

Mooring Line  Lines used to tie the ship to the pier or to another
ship. Mooring lines are numbered from forward aft; the direction they tend
is also sometimes given, e.g. number one mooring line
typically is made fast at the bow, and tends straight across to the pier
or other ship. Spring lines tend forward or aft of their attachment point.

MPA - Main Propulsion Assistant. Division Officer for MP Division, the
group that operates and maintains the ship's main engines.

MSL  (Aviation) Mean Sea Level. Altitude expressed with respect to
sea level (i.e. pressure altitude). Used to ensure common reference points
for aircraft operating in a common area. Altitudes expressed as MSL have
no meaning as far as ground clearance is concerned. See also AGL.

Mud  Coffee.

Muscle Bosun - Physical Training rating.

Mustang  (USN) An officer who has 'come up through the ranks',
i.e. started out as an enlisted man and earned a commission.

NAM - Navy Achievement Medal. Said to be given to SONAR GIRLS for
tracking a stationary object.

NAS - Naval Air Station

NATOPS  Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures
Standardization system. A program of systematized training and procedures
development for aircraft and air operations. Can also refer to the
specific NATOPS manual for each aircraft type. Developed to improve
readiness and reduce accident rates and severity. It has been truthfully
said that every line in the NATOPS manual has been written in blood.

Navy Shower  A water-saving evolution in which one attempts to get
reasonably clean while using as little water as possible. Basically, you
wet yourself down, turn off the shower, lather up, then turn the shower
back on to rinse off.

NBC Warfare - Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Warfare.

Neats - (RN) Straight rum, as opposed to GROG (q.v.). Also seen as
'Neaters'.

Negat  Spoken or abbreviated form of negative.

NFO - Naval Flight Officer. Derisively, Non-Flying Officer.

Nixie  A countermeasure against acoustic homing torpedoes. It
consists of a noise-generating body ("fish") towed behind the
ship on a long cable.

NJP - Non-Judicial Punishment. See CAPTAIN'S MAST.

No-Load  1) A servicemember who does not pull his or her own
weight. 2) A test of a catapult system where the cat is fired without
launching anything (a dry firing).

No Joy  No radio contact. Sometimes used to say "it didnt
work."

Nonskid - An epoxy compound applied to deck surfaces to improve

traction for feet and wheels. At the end of a cruise, when a flight
deck's nonskid is mostly gone, not to mention oily and/or greasy, taxiing
or landing can be even more of an adventure. Usually applied to all
weather decks of any ship.

No room to swing a cat  Insufficient room to carry out a flogging,
which punishment was performed with a CAT.

NQP - Non-Qual-Puke. (submarines only) One who has not yet received his
DOLPHINS. Also used as a derogatory term for a Dolphin wearer who screws
up on something he should have known.

Nub  Newbie, or someone who does not stand watches and is
therefore deadweight to the department. Literally, "Non-Usable Body."Nugget
- First-tour pilot or NFO. A diamond in the rough, or at least with a few
rough edges.Nuke, nuc  (1) Nuclear-trained and qualified personnel,
whether surface or sub. (2) A nuclear-powered vessel. (3) Nuclear weapon,
although the term "special weapon" is preferred.

Number 8's - (RN) Action working dress. The equivalent of US dungarees.

Nuts and Bolts - (RN) Stores rating concerned with equipment.

OBA - Oxygen Breathing Apparatus. An oxygen generating and rebreathing
system used for firefighting.

OBE - Overcome By Events. Eaten by the snakes in the cockpit; the victim
of task saturation. What happens to the pilot who forgets that his
priority of actions goes in the following order: Aviate, Navigate,
Communicate.

OCS - A program which takes in college graduates and turns out
commissioned officers. See "90-Day Wonder."

Oh Dark Thirty - Very late at night, or very early in the morning. Aka
Zero Dark Thirty.

Oil King  Personnel in charge of inventorying, testing, and
bringing aboard petroleum products of various types.

On Speed  A term meaning that the aircraft is at the proper speed
for final approach to landing. Indicated by the INDEXER light array. This
speed varies with amount of fuel and ordnance or other stores being
carried.

OPFOR  OPposing FORce, whether in an exercise or real life.

Opposite Number - (RN) (1) Anyone carrying out comparable or equivalent
duties on another watch or ship. (2) A friend.

Paygrade - Alphanumeric designation corresponding to rank (officer) or
rating (enlisted). Used to denote pay level or as an analog to
rank/rating. For example, O-1 is an Ensign (USN/USCG) or 2nd
Lieutenant (USA/USMC/USAF); an E-1 is a Seaman Recruit (USN) or Basic
Airman (USAF).

Peak and Tweak  An activity intended to bring electronics,
avionics, or other systems to optimum operating condition. Something the
TWIDGETS do.

Pigging, pigged - The use of a prepared expendable ship (engines run by
remote control, no crew below decks) run over a mined area repeatedly to
trigger influence-type mines. The drone ship is a 'guinea pig'. An area
cleared of mines is said to be "pigged".

Pig of the Port - The least attractive member of the opposite sex
brought aboard during a port visit. Awards and honors are often granted.

Pig Palace - A bar populated with ugly women, watered booze, etc.

Pilot - (RN) The navigating officer.

Pinkers  (UK) Gin or gin and water/tonic to which has been added
angostura bitters.

Pinkie - A landing occurring at first or last light which is generally
counted as a night landing (night landings are logged separately).

Ping  (1) To transmit on active sonar, or the sound or signal made
by same. (2) (RM) To recognize someone or something. (3) To bounce or
wander around aimlessly.

Ping Jockey  Sonar operator.

Piping Aboard  A ceremony where the arrival of a senior officer is
signified by the blowing of a BOSUNS WHISTLE.

Piping Hot  Originally, meals were announced aboard ship by piping
(blowing a call on the boatswains pipe). If a meal is piping hot, it
has just been served and is therefore hot.

Piping TAB - On submarines, a book that has all the systems drawn out.
Used as a study guide. TAB stands for Training Aid Booklet, and actually
there are two, one for piping systems and one for electrical systems. The
systems bibles. Aka 'The Mickey Mouse Book'.

Piss  (RAN, RNZN) Beer.

Pisscutter  Garrison cap.

Pissed  (1) (US) Angry. 2. (UK) Drunk.

Pissing Contest  A behavior similar to that displayed by two male
dogs when they meet. A heated argument.

Pistol - (Aviation) An aircraft gun, whether built-in or carried in a
pod.

Pit  (1) (Aviation) The back seat of a two-seat aircraft. Where
the GIB sits. (2) (RN/RCN/RAN) Rack (bed).

Pitch  Dynamic movement of a ship or aircraft about a transverse
axis, i.e. when bow or nose moves up and down. See also TRIM.

Pit Log  Short for Pitometer Log, a device for measuring the ships
speed through the water.

Pit Sword  The part of the PIT LOG (q.v.) which extends down into
the water from the ships hull and senses ship speed. It works by
generating an electric field and measuring its variations, which are
proportional to speed through the water.

PKP - Purple K Powder. Potassium carbonate. A dry firefighting

agent that chemically prevents combustion.

Plank Owner  A member of the original commissioning crew of a
ship. Traditionally, when a plankowner leaves, he is presented with a
piece of the wooden decking. Since the advent of all-metal warships,
however, a common plankowner memento is a plaque bearing a brass or bronze
escutcheon constructed from the machining scraps of the propellers.

Plastic Bug - Derisive term for the F/A-18, due to the large proportion
of synthetic materials in its makeup.

PLAT - Pilot Landing Aid Television. Two cameras which record

landings aboard the carrier. One is mounted flush in the landing area of
the flight deck, one is mounted on the island. Often called upon to
resolve pissing contests between pilots and LSOs.

Platform  (1) The station of the LSO, athwart the carriers
touchdown area, outboard of the portside deck edge. (2) A generic name for
any ship, aircraft, etc.

Pork Chop, Chop  (USN) Supply Officer. From the resemblance of the
collar device (actually oak leaves and three acorns) to a pork chop.

Pork Sword  (RNZN) Penis

Post-Stall Gyration  The behavior of an aircraft immediately
following a DEPARTURE; a period of uncommanded roll, pitch, and yaw
excursions while the aircraft is deciding if it wants to fly or not.

Port and Starboard  Watch schedule where one stands 6 (or four or
eight) hours on, the same amount of time off watch, then back on watch.

PQS - Personnel Qualification System. A method of formalizing and
tracking the qualification progress of personnel toward watchstation
certification. Often abbreviated as 'Qual System'. Used by all warfare
specialties, but has reached its ultimate in the submarine service.

Prairie - A noise-masking system which pumps air out of holes in a screw
blade to reduce cavitation noises.

Pressure Hull  The watertight, pressure-bearing structure that
makes up the living and working area of a submarine.

Probe and Drogue  An air-to-air refueling system which involves an
inflatable basket (the drogue) which is extended at the end of
a long hose trailed by the tanker aircraft. The receiving aircraft
maneuvers so that its refueling probe enters the basket.

Proword  Radio procedure word. Used to standardize and expedite
voice radio communications. Examples: over ("I am
finished speaking now, and expect you to reply"), roger ("I
understand you," or "yes"), out (perhaps the
most misused term in Hollywood, it means "I am finished speaking and
do not require an answer or acknowledgement back").

Pucker Factor - A measure of the stressfulness of a situation. High
pucker factor events are usually accompanied by 'that old sinking
feeling'.

Punch Elvis - Eject.

Purchase Cable - The part of the arresting gear that connects the
CROSS-DECK PENDANT to the arresting engines belowdecks.

Pusser, pussers - (RN) (1) Supply officer. (2) Anyone who goes 'by the
book'. (3) Of or belonging to the Royal Navy. The term is a corruption of
"Purser".

Puzzle Palace - (1) The Pentagon or, more generally, headquarters of any
sort. (2) (RM) The maze of offices on any UK camp.

Qual Card - A listing of necessary PQS qualification points. Each
completed goal is acknowledged by the signature of the appropriate duty
Chief or other authorized signer. May be a single piece of paper or a
bound book.

Queer - (1) An EA-6 Prowler, or the pilot of same, from the VAQ squadron
identifier.

Rabbits - (1) (RN) Souvenirs. (2) Any unofficial job. (3) Hydraulic
tracks that move weapons horizontally in a US SSN's torpedo room. (4)
(RCN) Items stolen from the ship or shipyard and smuggled out the main
gate. Can also mean items bought duty free overseas. Originally referred
to actual, live rabbits which were taken by dockyard workers from Whale
Island in the UK.

Rack - Bed, especially the combination bed and locker found as

enlisted sleeping accommodations.

Racket  An intercepted signal. The term is used in Electronic
Warfare.

Rack Time  Sleep.

Radioing a Report - See GUNDECKING.

Raghat  Junior sailor, E-6 (First Class Petty Officer) and below.

Rain Locker - Shower.

Ralph  Also seen as "looking for Ensign Ralph." Praying
to the porcelain god (vomiting). May result from seasickness or from
having maximized a recreational opportunity ashore.

Ramp (the) - The aftmost edge of the flight deck. Slopes toward the
water at about 45 degrees. Aka 'ROUND-DOWN'.

Ramp Strike - Occurs when an aircraft on carrier approach lands short
and hits the RAMP. Damage sustained by the aircraft can range from loss of
the hook point to destruction of the aircraft. Ship (and personnel) damage
can also result.

Redass - Official flap about something of little consequence. A pain in
the butt. "Man, that gender sensitivity training was a real redass."

Red Force  Opposing force in wargames. Sometimes abbreviated as "REDFOR."Rednose
 See ORDER OF THE RED NOSE.

Redout - A condition caused by excessive negative G's. Temporary loss or
obstruction of vision caused by too much blood in the retinas.

Redshirt - Aviation Ordnanceman. Wears a red jersey. Responsible for
loading and downloading ordnance from aircraft, and other ordnance-
handling duties such as assembling and attaching guidance packages. Aka
'ordie', 'loadtoad'. Members of Crash and Smash Team also wear red
jerseys.

Reflash  The reignition of a fire, generally due to hot spots.

Reheat - UK term for afterburners.

REMF  Rear Echelon MotherFucker.

Reserve Salute  A shrug of the shoulders.

Rhubarb  Originally, the codeword for a ground attack mission over
Europe during WW II, carried out by fighter aircraftnot the favorite
mission of the fighter pilots, as the missions suffered high loss rates.
Now, the term for an argument or disagreement.Rig for Angles and Dangles -
Submarine usage: to prepare for sharp, swift dives, ascents, and turns, or
to practice same.

Rig For Red  In submarines, to ensure all interior lighting is red
and of low intensity so as to preserve night vision.

ROAD - aka 'ROAD Program.' Retired On Active Duty. A (non)work strategy
employed by some senior members of the naval service.

Rocket  A letter or memo of reprimand.

Rogues Gun (or Salute)  (UK) The single gun salute fired at
the commencement of a court martial.

Roll  Dynamic movement of a ship or aircraft about the lateral
axis, i.e. a tilting of the deck from side to side. See also LIST.

Roll In On  An aviation term referring to the initial maneuver of
an attack. The term has somewhat wider usage nowto roll in on a
woman is to make a play for her attention.

RON - Remain overnight.

Rope (vs. line)  Natural or synthetic, woven, braided, or twisted
(or some combinations), it is called rope as long as it is on
the spool. As soon as you unroll a piece and cut it off, it becomes line.

Ropeyarn Sunday  Early liberty or an early knockoff of ships
work. Refers to the days of sail, when Sunday was generally a day for "make
and mend," i.e. personal admin. rather than ships work.

Round-Down - See RAMP.

Royal Baby - The junior (or, often, the fattest) member of KING
NEPTUNE's court. During the LINE-CROSSING CEREMONY, all POLLYWOGS must
kiss his belly, which is usually smeared with grease, oil, or salad
dressing.

Royal Marine - (RN) British Marine. "Her Majesty's Royal Marines,"
when they are up and dressed (seldom). Aka 'bootneck', 'jolly'.

RPO - (RN) Regulating Petty Officer.

RTB - Return To Base.

Rug Dance - Quality time spent with a senior officer or NCO, usually in
a very one-sided conversation. Typical topics of discussion include one's
parentage and probable eventual fate. Aka 'chewing out, ass chewing, etc.'

Sally Ship  Causing a ship to list by having parties of men run
from one side of the ship to the other. When a ship runs aground, a
suction often forms between the hull and the sea bottom mud, and sallying
ship can break that suction, making it possible to back off of the reef.
Somewhat akin to a TRIM PARTY, but for very different reasons.

Scrounge  (1) A sailor who is not current on his hygiene. (2) The
procurement of a needed item through irregular (i.e. illegal) means.

Scrubber - On a submarine, removes or "scrubs" CO2 out of the
air.

Scullery Slut - (RCN) Junior hands assigned to work in the mess decks
(enlisted eating area) to clean dishes, serve the Chiefs, make coffee,
etc. Similar to USN 'MESSCRANK.'

Scuttle - (1) A water-tight opening set in a hatch or bulkhead.

(2) To intentionally sink a ship or object. (3) To punch a hole in
something.

Scuttlebutt - (1) Drinking fountain; Originally, a BUTT which had been
SCUTTLED, used to hold drinking water for crew access in sailing ships.
(2) Gossip or rumors. Originated from the habit of crewmembers of talking
while at the scuttlebutt.

Sea Bat - A practical joke akin to a snipe hunt.

Sea Chest - The cavity inside a SEA SUCTION from which pumps draw
seawater, often for cooling purposes.

Sea Chicken  Derisive term for NATO Sea Sparrow. Not the same as CHICKEN
OF THE SEA (q.v.).

Sea Daddy - Someone who takes a less-experienced crewmember under his or
her wing and expert tutelage. Often, and traditionally, when a CPO takes
care of and educates a boot ensign.

Sea Lawyer  Someone who professes to have significant knowledge of
the fine points of the rules and regs. This knowledge is often used for
personal gain, or to claim why something cannot be done.

Sea Story  A tale of nautical or airborne derring-do. Differs from
a fairy tale only in that while a fairy tale begins "Once upon a
time," a sea story begins either "There I was," (aviation
version) or "This is no shit," (seaborne version).

Sea Suction - Underwater opening in a ship's hull. May be several feet
in diameter. Usually fitted with a grating to prevent the entry of large,
unwanted objects such as divers and other sea life.

Semi-Active Homing  A type of radar missile homing where the
launch platform provides radar transmissions and the missile homes in on
the radar energy reflected off of the target. Abbreviated as SAH.

Set and Drift  Refers to the behavior of a ship under the
influence of wind and current; both deflect the ship from its intended
course. Set is the direction of that deflection, and drift
is the speed in knots of the displacement. A vector.

Shellback - One who has crossed the Equator. Frequently modified with
the adjective "trusty".

Shellback Ceremony - See LINE-CROSSING CEREMONY.

Shift Colors - When a ship moors, the national colors are broken on the
stern, the Jack is broken on the bow, and the national colors ("steaming
colors") are hauled down at the masthead, all at the instant the
first line goes over. When the ship gets underway, as soon as the last
line is cast off the dock, the Jack and colors are struck at bow and stern
while the steaming colors are broken at the masthead.

Ship Over  Re-enlist.

Ships Company  Refers to the officers and men assigned to
the ship, as separate from the AIRWING.

Shitbird  A screwed-up person.

Shitcan - Trash can, or when used as a verb, to throw something away.
Can be used to refer to people: "He was a dirtbag, so we shitcanned
him to Surface Line."

Shit In It  (UK) Leave it alone.

Shitfaced  (1) Drunk. (2) (UK) Angry.

Shitters  (1) (UK) Just about anything, but especially any liquids
or chemicals, used in cleaning the head. (2) The toilets, as opposed to
the Pissers (urinals).

Shonky  (RNZN) Not particularly well; not well rehearsed, not
familiar with.

Shooter  The catapult officer. The one who directs the firing

of the catapult.

Short - (or short-timer) Someone whose rotation or transfer date is
rapidly approaching. Can lead to usage of the term FIGMO.

Short-Arm Inspection  VD check. The sailors lined up after a port
call and the doc took a look. Really.

Short-Timer's Chain - A length of chain carried by a short-timer, where
the number of links equals the number of days remaining before discharge.
Each day, the short-timer cuts off another link.

Shot  A radio call that a shot has been fired. See also SPLASH.

Show a Leg  The traditional call made at reveille, it originated
in the days of sail when women were let aboard ship. At reveille, a woman
in her hammock would display a leg and thereby was not required to turn
out.

Side Number - Numbers painted on the nose of an aircraft to serialize it
as to type and squadron. 1XX and 2XX are fighters. 3XX and 4XX are attack
aircraft. 5XX is the EW (EA-6 Prowler) detachment, 6XX is the E-2 Hawkeye
detachment, and 7XX is the ASW (Viking) squadron.

Sierra Hotel - From the phonetic alphabet for SH, the polite form of
'Shit Hot'. Excellent, aggressive, skilled, etc. "Man, that was a
sierra hotel takeoff."

Sippers - (RN) Drinks, usually containing alcohol.

Situational Awareness - Especially in aviation, one's awareness of the
surroundings, circumstances, and tactical situation, though it is used in
all warfare communities. Loss of situational awareness is often fatal in
combat, and can be fatal at other times as well.

Skate - (RCN) One who avoids work. See BANDIT. Also, to get out of
something, e.g. work.

Skimmer - A surface ship, or officers/crew of same. Frequently

Modified to indicate disgust by members of the submarine community with
the adjective "fucking".

Skosh  Pronounced with a long o. From the Japanese
sukoshi, literally 'small' or 'little'. The F-5 was long known as the
Skoshi Tiger. (1) Little or low, as in "They better get that foul
deck cleared; Dave's coming in skosh fuel." (2) Fast, or quickly, as
in "We need to get this job done most skosh."

Skunk  The name label used for surface radar contacts. "Skunk
Alpha" refers to the first new radar contact of the day, "Skunk
Bravo" the second, etc.

Skylarking  Horsing around, goofing off, etc.

Slammer - The AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, which is in service but has not
been assigned an official name, although 'Bounty Hunter' appears in some
early Hughes Missile Systems documents.

Sleeping Dictionary  A member of the local population who teaches
a sailor the local language (among other things), usually in exchange for
room and board.

Sliders - (1) Hamburgers. So greasy, they "slide". (2) (RN)
Leaving work early, either by departments or individually.

Sliders with lids - Cheeseburgers.

Slops - (RN) Uniforms and other official clothing for sale. The 'slop
chit' is the authorization to obtain clothing from stores. Derived from
the old terms sloppe or slype, which meant ill-fitting or loose clothing.

Sloshy - (RN) The cook, or the cooks helper.

Small boy - Frigate or destroyer.

Smoking Lamp - From the square-rigger days, a lamp from which personnel
could light their pipes or cigars. In contemporary usage, signifies
whether smoking is permitted or not. If the smoking lamp is out, no
smoking is permitted.

Snack Hole  See CAKE HOLE.

SNAFU - Situation Normal, All Fucked Up.

Snake-eater - SEAL's and other Special Forces personnel.

Snake Ranch  A house rented by a group of bachelors.

Snidget  A member of engineering department who works on
electronics, literally a "Snipe Twidget."

Snipe - Crew members in the engineering rates; someone who works in the
engineering spaces and seldom is seen topside when underway. MM's
(Machinist's Mates) and BT's (Boiler Technicians) are ultimate snipes. In
today's modern gas turbine fleet, also includes GSM (Gas Turbine
Specialist, Mechanic), GSE (Gas Turbine Specialist, Electrician), and

EN (Engineman). It is believed that true snipes cannot stand direct
sunlight or fresh air, must have machine oil in their coffee in order to
survive, and get nosebleeds at altitudes above the waterline. It is also
firmly believed that fresh-air sailors who venture into SNIPE COUNTRY are
never seen again. Aka BLACK-HAND GANG (RN), BLACK GANG. See STOKER (RN).

Snipe Country - The engineering spaces, bilges, and voids where the
snipes dwell. Considered to be extremely dangerous territory for
non-snipes. "The snipes will get you" is commonly used to deter
sailors from going too far below decks.

Snivel - (1) A request that one not be assigned a watch or other duty
(flight, etc.) due to other obligations. (2) A log for recording same, the
'Snivel Log'. (3) Whining.

Snorkers - (RN) Sausages.

Snotty - (RN) Derogatory term for a midshipman. Supposedly due to the "young
gentlemens" habit of wiping their noses with their sleeves. The
navy attempted to counter this habit by sewing buttons on the cuffs of
naval uniform jackets.

SNUB  Shortest Nuke Onboard

Sods Opera  (UK) An impromptu variety show put on by the
ships company, usually of a bawdy nature.

Sonar Dome  The generally onion-shaped structure at a surface ships
bow which houses the sonar transducer.Sonar Girls - Submarine sonar
operators. The rate is STS. The term is somewhat derogatory, and refers to
behavioral and hygiene habits. Minus the behavioral quirks, the equivalent
rates are ST (surface) and AW (aviation).

Son of a Gun  Traditionally, a male child born (or conceived)
afloat. An archaic term from the days of sail, when crewmen were typically
not let ashore for fear of desertion. Women were let aboard (the
regulation said "wives", but this was immediately and widely
ignored, or at least winked at), and even carried at sea at times.

SOP  Standard Operating Procedure.

SOS  Shit On a Shingle, i.e. creamed chipped beef on toast.

SOSUS  SOund SUrveillance System. A land-based system of seabed
hydrophones and sophisticated analysis equipment, used to monitor
worldwide movements of ships and submarines.

Spanner - (RN) Wrench.

Sparker, Sparks - (RN) Radio operator.

SpecOps - Special Operations. Any mention of SpecOps is generally
followed with "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

Speeding Ticket - A citation written by the MAA, often for a Charley
Sierra infraction such as "out of uniform."

Speed of Heat (The)  (Aviation) Moving very fast.

Splash  (1) Signifies the kill of an aircraft, e.g. "Cowboy
one-six, splash one." (2) (Gunnery) A radio call warning that a salvo
or shell will land in ten seconds (see also SHOT). The call may be to warn
you to get your head down (if youre in the target area) or to get
your head up to observe the fall of shot if you are a member of the fire
control team.

Splice the Main Brace - Have a drink. Originated in the days of the
sailing navies.

Square Away  Originating in the days of sail, the term refers to
putting a ship before the wind (getting way on the ship). Today, the term
refers to getting organized or ready for something, be it an inspection, a
drill, etc.

Squawk - To use an IFF transponder, or the numeric code set into such a
device.

Squid - Sailor. Frequently modified by the other services, especially
Marines, with the adjective "fucking".

Speed Jeans - G-suit.

Spook - Intelligence personnel.

Spot  (Gunnery) Observing the fall of shot and calling corrections
to the firing unit; also refers to the actual corrections themselves.

Squared Away  Originally, to "square away" meant to trim
a ships sails to put her before the wind (i.e. get underway). Today,
it means a ship that looks good, maneuvers smartly, etc., or refers to a
sailor who is capable and smart in appearance and action.

SSORM  Ships Service and Organization Manual. The bible for
shipboard organization.

STAB - (UK) Stupid Territorial Army Bastard

Steaming as before - The beginning of a log entry made at when changing
the watch. If at the beginning of the day (i.e. midnight), it is followed
with a detailed narrative of ship, system, and machinery status. It is
traditional that the first log entry made in the new year should be in
verse.

Steel Beach - Barbecue on the flight deck or other weather deck. Often
hosted by a department to give the cooks a break.

Stores  (1) (Services of Supply) Almost anything which is handled
or consumed aboard ship, e.g. food, spare parts, etc. (2) (Aviation)
Weapons or other devices which can be carried by an aircraft.

Straddle  In shipboard gunnery, when one round or salvo is over,
and the next is short, or vice versa. A hit is often soon to come, as the
firing ship is getting the targets range (prior to the advent of
radar, the most difficult aspect of the fire control puzzle).

Straight Board  In submarines, the more modern version of the "GREEN
BOARD" (q.v.) report. Hull closure indicators are mounted on a panel.
Closures which are shut are indicated by a backlighted dash (short
straight line), while open closures are indicated by a backlighted donut
(circle). Therefore, with a straight board, all hull openings
are closed and it is safe to dive the boat.

Strangle - Shut off or disable. "Strangle your parrot" is a
common call to shut off an aircraft's IFF transponder.

Strike  (1) (Aviation) The mud-moving side of the community. (2)
To attempt to qualify for a new rate (specialty).

Striker - Crewmember, usually a nonrate, who 'tries out' for a specific
rate.

Striking for Chief  Brown-noser, or someone really good at his
job.

Stripey - (RN) Able rate with two or three good conduct badges.

Subby - (RN) Sub-lieutenant.

Sub - (RN) Pay advance, loan.

Suck and Blow Sailor  Airedale. "Suck and Blow" also
refers to jet aircraft, for obvious reasons. Early jets were called "blow
jobs."

Swinging Dick - Men (or personnel), as in "I want every swingin'
dick in Deck Division working on the problem!"

Swinging the Lead - (RCN) To work in a lazy manner. "OS Bloggins
has BIRDS for swinging the lead."

SWO  Surface Warfare Officer.

SWOS  Surface Warfare Officer School.

TACAN  TACtical Air Navigation. A radio navaid (navigational aid)
which provides bearing and distance data to the aircraft. Slang term is gadget.Tack
- (1) A piece of rope (line) used as a blank in a signal flag hoist, used
for punctuation or to set aside a part of the message. (2) A punctuation
mark in a written or voice message, written as a dash.

Tacking On - "Tacking on the crow" refers to the practice of
punching the arm of a newly-promoted PO, a practice now in disfavor due to
past abuses. See CROW.

TACTAS  TACtical Towed Array Sonar.

Tactical Diameter  The diameter of the circle first described by a
ships turn. Tactical diameter is larger than FINAL DIAMETER due to
the momentum of the ship, which drives the ship outside of the arc of its
turn at first.

TAD - Temporary Additional Duty, as when attending a school. Generally
less than 6 months. Facetiously, 'Traveling Around Drunk.' See also TDY.

Tail  Towed sonar array.

Tallyho - Call signifying visual contact.

Target - Submarine usage: a surface vessel.

TARPS - Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod. Turns an F-14 into a Peeping
Tom.

Tattletale - See "AGI."

TAU - Twin Agent Unit. On an aircraft carrier, a tractor that has been
modified or purpose-built for firefighting. It has two nozzles: one sprays
PKP, the other sprays AFFF.

TER  Triple Ejector Rack. A stores rack used to get more usage out
of the limited number of hardpoints found on tactical aircraft. Allows up
to three bombs (for example) to be hung on a single set of shackles,
depending on weight and space limitations.

Texaco - Airborne tanker.

TFOA  Things Falling Off Aircraft. An unintentional event. Highly
embarrassing, and thereby something to be avoided! Can be ordnance but
also can be other important pieces such as landing gear doors, control
surfaces, ejector racks, fuel tanks, etc.

Three Sheets to the Wind  Drunk. Literally, when the lines to the
sails (sheets) have come adrift and fly in the wind.

Tickler - (RN) Tobacco, especially naval issue.

Tiddly suit - (RN) Best uniform.

Tiff - (RN) Artificer. Usually used with the rate, e.g. 'Chief Tiffy'.

Tilly - (1) (USN) A wheeled aircraft crash and salvage crane on an
aircraft carrier. It is typically parked aft of the island.

(2) (RN) Crew bus or other transport.

TINS - "This Is No Shit." The opening line to a sea story.

Titivate  Clean up, or make shipshape.

Titless Wave - A (male) Yeoman. Can also be used to refer to PN's
(Personnelman).

TLD - Thermo-Luminescent Dosimeter. Found in nuclear vessels, used to
determine exposure to radiation.

TMOW - Torpedoman Of (the) Watch. Responsible for all onboard weapons
systems of a submarine. This includes the safe shipping and storage of
torpedoes and torpedo-tube launchable missiles. Considered by some to be a
KNUCKLE-DRAGGER.

Toasts  In the British Empire, toasts were drunk at dinner to the
reigning monarch (also known as the loyal toast). The Navy
eventually received special permission to drink the loyal toast while
seated (due to the lack of headroom common to ships of the day). In
addition, traditional toasts were drunk on specific days of the week. They
were:

Monday  "Our ships at sea."

Tuesday  "Our native land."

Wednesday  "Ourselves and no one like us."

Thursday  "A bloody war or a sickly season" (and

therefore more-rapid promotion).

A variant was "A bloody war and quick

promotion."

Friday  "A willing foe and searoom."

Saturday  "Sweethearts and wives." (someone would usually pipe up "and may they never meet!"

Tot - (RN) A half-gill measure of Pussers Rum. Used to be daily issue,
served neat to Chiefs and Petty Officers; mixed with two parts water for
other rates.

Toto Station  Patrol station in the North Red Sea during
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The winner of a "name the
station" contest: "Gee, Admiral, were not in Kansas any
more." The inshore stations were promptly named "Wizard"
and "Oz."

Transfer  See ADVANCE AND TRANSFER.

Transient - (ASW) A sudden sound emitted from a sonar contact. May be
anything from a dropped wrench to the sound of torpedo or missile tube
outer doors opening. Tends to generate high PUCKER FACTOR in other subs or
surface ships.

Trap - (1) Arrested landing aboard a carrier. "Night traps"
are night landings. "Field traps" (arrested landings on a shore
base) are an entirely different kettle of fish, being nowhere near as
abrupt or unforgiving. (2) (RN) Toilet cubicle. (3) Trapping: (RN) Sexual
activity with members of the opposite sex, probably derived from some
obscure analog to tailhooks.

Trim  (1) The static (i.e. at-rest) tendency of a ship to lie with
her decks not in a horizontal position, fore to aft. A ship that lies with
her bow too low is said to "trim by the bow." (2) A mechanism or
system of an aircraft or ship (especially submarines) which compensates
for imbalances fore and aft or port and starboard, so as to maintain level
attitude. Can be a noun (for the system or static tendency) or a verb, to
use the system to change longitudinal (fore and aft) or lateral (side to
side) balance. In aircraft, trim is usually accomplished by the adjustment
of small surfaces (tabs) on the flight control surfaces,
although an entire control surface is moved on some types. In submarines,
trim is usually accomplished by pumping fluids (water, usually) from one
tank to another, or by moving weights such as stores from one compartment
to another.

Trim Party  A prank often perpetrated on a newly-qualled Dive
Officer or Chief of the Watch, where men and other weights are shifted
fore and aft to affect the trim of the boat.

Tunnel (The) - Room either above or next to the reactor compartment
(depending on the class of sub) that allows fore/aft travel past that
space.

Twelve O'clock Reports - Reports on fuel and water, magazine
temperature, and position. These reports are made to the OOD (Officer of
the Deck) by the engineering officer, the weapons officer, and the
navigator, respectively. The OOD then reports to the CO.

Twidget - Any of the electronics/computer/communications technicians.

Two-blocked - To reach the maximum limit of something. Can also mean
just right, or perfect. The term originates in the use of block and tackle
for hoisting. When the two blocks touch, lifting can proceed no farther.
RN/RCN is "chock-a-block" or "chokers."

Two-and-a-half (RN) - Lieutenant Commander.

UA - Unauthorized Absence. The Naval/Marine equivalent of AWOL

(Absent Without Leave).

Uder - (RN, pronounced like the cow's appendage) The stoker in

charge of the fuel tanks, fresh water, and fuels reports.

Under Way  Sometimes seen as "under weigh." The term
refers to a ship which is not physically connected to solid ground, i.e.
neither moored, anchored, nor aground. Often confused with "MAKING
WAY (q.v.)," though legally very different.

UNREP - UNderway REPlenishment. The transfer of supplies, fuel, and
munitions from one ship to another while at sea. Also seen as RAS
(Replenishment At Sea), esp. RN/RCN.

Up the Hawsepipe  (UK) An officer commissioned from the lower deck
(enlisted ranks).

US  (RN/RCN/RAN) UnServiceable.

USMC  US Marine Corps. Cynically, Uncle Sams Misguided
Children.

Ustafish - (1) General term for a previous submarine command one has
served in. Often used as "That's not how we did it aboard the
USTAFISH." Generally followed by various short, forceful comments
from others present. (2) A rogue virtual submarine manned by members of
the sci.military.naval newsgroup.

Vampire  Antiship cruise missile.

Vasco - (RN) See NAVIGATOR.

Veer  (1) To pay out line or chain, as in increasing the scope of
the anchor. (2) A change of wind direction in the clockwise direction (as
one looks into the wind).

Vertical Envelopment  Landing troops ashore via helicopter.

VertRep  VERtical REPlenishment. Bringing stores aboard ship by
use of a helicopter.

VFR - Visual Flight Rules. An FAA-specified series of flight rules used
when an aircraft is not under positive radar control. When flying VFR, an
aircraft's pilot has sole legal responsibility for safe flight and
collision avoidance.

Vittled In - Something good. OS Bloggins really vittled in when he cut
the MESS MOTHER'S grass at the PIG OF THE PORT contest.

Vittler - (RCN) The stores rating who looks after issuing rations to the
cooks and takes care of the ordering and storing of food onboard. From the
word victual (which is pronounced vittle).

VMC - Visual Meteorological Conditions.

Vulture's Row - The catwalks and galleries along the island of an
aircraft carrier, where crewmembers often congregate to watch flight
operations. RN/RCN form is "goofers" (goofing stations).

XO - Executive Officer. Second-in-command of a vessel.

WAA - Wide Aperture Array. An advanced passive ranging sonar.

Wafoo, wafu - (RN) Naval aviator; Fleet Air Arm personnel. Aka

'AIRY-FAIRY'. Originally an abbreviation for "Weapons And Fuel
Users." May also mean "Wet And Fucking Useless."

Walter  Walter One-Way, the guy who always does for himself, and
never helps you. See CHECK VALVE.

Waste Heat Boiler  A boiler which uses the waste (otherwise
nonfunctional) heat of an engine system to make steam for hotel or other
usage. Often associated with a gas turbine or diesel propulsion plant.

Watch  The standing of duty shifts. The practice varies, but in
the US Navy, the watch rotation is as follows:

0000-0400  Midwatch

0400-0800  Morning Watch

0800-1200  Forenoon Watch

1200-1600  Afternoon Watch

1600-1800  First Dogwatch

1800-2000  Second Dogwatch

2000-2400  Evening Watch (aka First Watch)

The purpose of the dogwatches is to permit the watchstanders to eat the
evening meal. These watches are said to be "dogged."

Water Buffalo - (1) A water tank on wheels used by SeaBees and/or other
ground forces to carry drinking water. (2) Someone who uses excessive
water, such as by taking HOLLYWOOD SHOWERS (submarines).

Water Wings - Warfare qualification pin for a Surface Warfare Officer
(SWO), or Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS). Represented as the
bow of a ship superimposed on crossed swords (SWO) or cutlasses (ESWS).

Wave  (Aviation) The actions of an LSO when he directs and
monitors the landing operations aboard a carrier. Also seen as "Wave
Aboard."

Waveoff - A call by the LSO directing a go-around. Unlike most radio
calls to a pilot, a waveoff is not advisory in nature.

Weather Deck  Literally, any deck of a ship which is exposed to
the weather, i.e. outside the skin of the ship.

WEPS - The weapons officer.

Wets - (RN) Drinks.

WFW - "Waaah Fucking Waaah". Used to tell someone to quit
whining.

Wheel Book  A small notebook, usually used by Division Officers to
keep track of daily events and reminders.

Wind Tunnel - Typically, an area of a ship where the ships
movement and natural winds combine with ship's architecture to cause
significant air movement. Commonly used on old '27-Charlie' aircraft
carriers, but also applied to more modern vessels.

Winger - (RCN) Mate, buddy, or pal.

Wings - The insignia of an aviator. Represented as wings flanking a
shield surmounting an anchor, or in the case of NFO's, two crossed
anchors. "Getting (one's) wings"  achieving the status of
a qualified aviator.

Wire - (1) Nautical term for what a civilian would call a cable or wire
rope. (2) Cross-deck pendant of the arresting gear aboard a carrier.
Numbered from aft forward, 1 to 4. In older, straight-deck carriers (ca.
WWII and Korean War), there could be as many as 20 or more wires.

Wire Rope  Wire strands wound around a core of rope. Not as strong
as cable, but more flexible.